(Eagle News)–It was Vice President Leni Robredo herself and her Liberal partymates who prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to fire her as Inter-Agency Committee Against Illegal Drugs co-chair.
In an interview over radio dzbb, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said it was LP president Kiko Pangilinan who was himself asking Duterte to fire Robredo.
“…Ang pinakamatindi, si VP Leni, nung magsalita si Presidente, ano ang naging tugon niya? Sabi niya ‘Kung ayaw mo sa akin, sabihin mo.’ Ayun, pinagbigyan siya,” Panelo said.
“In-appoint ka na nga, pinagbigyan ka na nga ng pagkakataon makatulong sa bansa pagkatapos ay babastusin mo pa,” he added.
Robredo has yet to issue a statement on her dismissal.
Earlier, Pangilinan and Robredo slammed Duterte for saying he did not trust her.
“Kung ayaw nila si VP Leni bilang drug czar, walang pumipigil sa kanila na tanggalin siya sa nasabing pwesto,” Pangilinan had said.
“Itigil na nila ang pananakot na tatanggalin si VP Leni sa pwesto at itigil din ang pasaring at pag-iinsulto na hindi maaring pagkatiwalaan si VP Leni,” he had added.
Robredo, for her part, said Duterte should tell it to her face if he did not want her in the post.
“Madali naman akong kausap,” she had said.