Albay Representative Edcel Lagman/photo courtesy of Philstar |
Albay Representative Edcel Lagman has something new to say
on Vice President Leni Robredo’s newly designated post as the co-chair of the Inter-Agency
Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).
According to Lagman, the “mistrust” issue on Vice President Robredo’s
handling of “confidential information” is just an excuse by President Rodrigo
Duterte to make Robredo appear as a failure in handling the country’s anti-drug czar.
“Why in the first
place did Duterte appoint the Vice President to lead the anti-narcotics
campaign if he did not trust her?” said Lagman.
Lagman said Duterte’s announcement to fire her is only an “alibi
to pin failure” on Robredo or
“inveigling her to resign” as co-chair of the ICAD.
“Why did Duterte
commit that he would give Robredo all the help she needs in her new role if he
did not trust her?” said Lagman.
The fierce critic of Duterte, Lagman mentioned that neither
the President nor his alter-egos have specifically disclosed what “state
secrets” on illegal drugs has Robredo allegedly shared with representatives of
the United Nations and the United States.
Lagman also called
Duterte’s threat as “utterly unnecessary” and a statement “obvious” with the
intention for Robredo to fail in her new position.
“Both here and abroad
Robredo’s acceptance of her challenging task to chart a non-violent campaign
against drug traders and users has received popular commendation and widespread
trust in Robredo, the Duterte administration is attempting to diminish these positive
responses” said Lagman.
The Albay Representative believes, however, that Robredo being a lawyer, too, like Duterte, knows what the information would and would not compromise national security.
They
said information about alleged drug lords and records pertaining to alleged
abusive killings, the same documents Robredo has been requesting from law
enforcement, do not belong in the category.
“No less than Duterte has previously released on several
occasions the names of high profile suspects in the drug list which included
businessmen, politicians, generals, and police officers, among others,” Lagman added.
Sure: Politiko
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