Duterte in no position to evaluate Robredo's abilities –VP adviser

Vice President Leni Robredo's legal adviser, Barry Gutierrez, suggested in a Twitter post that President Rodrigo Duterte was in no position to evaluate the vice-president's leadership abilities.

"Inflation: 5.2%. Bigas: P42/kilo. $1 = P53.51. Dagdag sa pambansang utang: P1.19T. Sariling karagatan: bawal sa Pinoy. Trapik: palala pa. Patayan, tila araw araw na lang. Incompetent? Nagsalita ang magaling," Gutierrez said in his tweet.

Duterte on Tuesday argued that Robredo would never be prepared to replace him as president. He described her as incompetent.

"Look, I will not resign because it will make her president," Duterte said. "My resignation is addressed to the people para makapili sila ng gusto nila. Siya (Robredo), I don’t think she can ever be ready to govern a country. Reason? Incompetence."

Duterte, who claimed he would quit the presidency as early as next year once the proposed federal constitution is ratified in a plebiscite, commented on Robredo's leadership abilities after she declared she would lead the political opposition in the run-up to the 2019 midterm elections.

Malacañang said it was hardly surprised by Robredo's decision given that she is the highest elected member of the opposition.

Robredo, who entered politics only in 2013, is the chairperson of the former ruling Liberal Party. 

The widow of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, Leni Robredo has been a vocal critic of some of the Duterte administration's policies, including its bloody war on illegal drugs and push for Charter change. — DVM/KBK, GMA News