Duterte defends Robredo in impeachment raps: Stop it

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday defended Vice President Leni Robredo amid the impeachment complaint filed against her. 

"Look. We just had an election. Guys, lay off. Stop it. You can do other things, but do not tinker with the structure of government. I will not countenance it. Elected iyong tao eh," he said in a press briefing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after arriving from his trips in Myanmar and Thailand.

"So, why do you have to? Just because she keeps harping on me? Hayaan mo. This is a democracy. It's freedom of speech. Wala naman—there are no overt acts," he added.

Duterte warned that the impeachment case would only create more troubles in the country, especially now that the security forces were already facing enough challenges as is.

"Kakatapos lang ng eleksyon. Bakit mo sirain ang bayan? Eh ako, malay mo hindi na ako magising bukas sa bangungot, okay na. Eh di siya. You create trouble... Ayaw ng military, hindi naman tamad, pero bakit mo dagdagan ang problema nila? Pati pulis? Who will keep order in this country kung di sila?" he said.

"Baka magsabi sila, 'T*** *** itong mga ito, gusto talaga ng gulo. Gusto talaga ng basagan ng ulo. Maganda na nga ang buhay kasi kakatapos lang ng eleksyon.' You know, this is a democracy," he added.

The statement was made after Duterte teased Robredo the past few days that she is in a rush to take his position.

Last week, he accused Robredo to "being in a hurry to claim the presidency," one week after saying she was not involved in destabilization plots against his administration. — BAP, GMA News