(Eagle News) — The Palace on Wednesday, Nov. 6, slammed the camp of Vice President Leni Robredo for “giving all sorts of excuses and demands” following her designation as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs by President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo in particular slammed Robredo’s spokesperson, lawyer Barry Gutierrez, who said that the position was different from the one initially offered by Duterte.
He also said the post, which according to him Robredo has not accepted yet, did not exist under Executive Order No. 15 “at hindi clear anong powers siya magiging responsible.”
“We hate to educate a member of the bar but obviously the agent of the principal needs to brush up his law,” Panelo said.
Panelo reiterated there was no need to amend EO 15 since the President “has the inherent continuing authority to create positions and items, as well as to reorganize instrumentalities, within the bureaucracy.”
“In the face of a challenge to offer meaningful public service, the camp of VP Leni has been hewing and dodging, giving all sorts of excuses and demands,” Panelo said.
“We would like to think that they do not come from VP Leni herself but from her advisers who apparently would not want her to succeed in serving the people,” he added.
He urged Robredo to “reflect and give the matter a careful thought,” and seize the “golden opportunity.”
“We do not believe that the Vice President is incapable of rising up to the challenge and doing justice to the trust reposed upon her by Filipino people, unless of course she proves us wrong by declining the appointment,” Panelo said.
“President Duterte believes that there is no better person who can implement such suggestions than the person making them,” he added.
