Robredo: House probe asked unnecessary, malicious questions

Vice President Leni Robredo. DEXTER CABALZA/INQUIRER

Vice President Leni Robredo said some questions asked by members of the House of Representatives during the justice committee hearing on the proliferation of illegal drugs in the national penitentiary were unnecessary and malicious.

“Tiningnan ko online yung mga questions na tinanong… Parang totally unnecessary, bastos na talaga yung iba. Wala siya dapat lugar sa institution na nirerespeto natin (I checked online the questions asked and they were totally unnecessary, some were even malicious. Those should have no place in institutions that we should respect),” Robredo said, admitting that she had not watched the whole hearing.

Such was a form of harassment not just of Sen. Leila de Lima, her partymate in the Liberal Party, but also of women in general, said Robredo after a speech on the kickoff of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women on Friday at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay.

“Kung susundan natin yung mga tinatanong, wala siyang relevance sa investigation na kinoconduct. Parang ang nanyari talaga ay slut-shaming, pambabastos talaga, (If we follow the questions asked, they had no relevance in the investigation being conducted. What really happened was slut-shaming [of De Lima]),” she added.

READ: De Lima: No woman deserves to be betrayed by any man

The House committee on justice resumed its probe Thursday into the illegal drugs trade inside the National Bilibid Prison during De Lima’s stint as justice secretary.

De Lima’s former driver-bodyguard and lover Ronnie Dayan was questioned on his alleged role as De Lima’s bagman in dealing with drug lords in Bilibid.

Several congressmen feasted on the salacious details of De Lima and Dayan’s love affair.

House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas asked Dayan how strong their love for each other was.

Dayan said it reached “Signal No. 5,” but “weakened to Signal No. 1,” prompting laughter in the room.

Following his colleagues’ sexually charged questions, 1-Ang Edukasyon Rep. Salvador Belaro asked Dayan:  “When did you climax … the intensity of your feelings for each other?” The crowd roared.

READ: Solons chide Dayan on his ‘love for De Lima’

The licentious exchange drew the ire of netizens, who expressed disgust at the misogyny exhibited by the members of the House.

Robredo said the lawmakers should set an example to their constituents, lest it give them the license to also disrespect women.

“Pag hinahayaan natin na ganun yung actuations ng mga tinitingala natin, parang binibigyan natin ng lisensya yung mga ordinaryong mamamayan na ganun din ang gawin (Allow such to be the actuations of those we look up to would be akin to giving ordinary citizens the license to do the same),” she added. CDG/rga