Lagman: Mistrust of Robredo is just Duterte's alibi to pin failure on her

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