‘Democracy demands dissent,’ says Robredo on Senate shakeup

Vice President Leni Robredo/FILE PHOTO

Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday slammed the Duterte administration for being “incapable of dissent” after Liberal Party senators were suddenly stripped of their committee chairmanships.

In a statement, Robredo emphasized that “democracy demands dissent.”

Robredo warned that the silencing of critical voices has happened before, referring to martial rule, and what happened at the Senate could be a portent of things to come.

The Vice President said that those with critical views of the administration “will not be silenced.”

“Despite our sincere efforts, it is now clear that the Duterte administration is incapable of tolerating dissent, no matter how constructive,” Robredo said.

The Vice President said that the Liberal Party “put national interest over politics” and was “determined” to work with the current administration.

“What happened in the Senate today is characteristic of an administration obsessed with monopolizing power and intent on marginalizing those who have opposing views,” she said.

“This has happened before. In the past, this paved the way for a one-man rule. We will not be silenced. Our nation deserves no less. Democracy demands dissent,” she said./ac