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Sara hits VP Leni over remark on honesty in public office; Robredo camp, LP react


Davao City Mayor and the President's daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio on Saturday slammed Vice President Leni Robredo for making a remark that dishonest persons should not run for public office.

"Leni Robredo should avoid commenting about honesty and integrity. Her honesty has been questioned since day one of her term as Vice President," Sara said in a statement.

The President's daughter made the remark following Robredo's statement that dishonest persons should not think of aspiring for public office.

Sara—campaign manager of the administration's Senate slate in the May elections—previously said honesty should not be an issue in the elections because "everybody lies."

Members of the opposition Senate slate criticized her for it. Malacañang, on the other hand, said voters do not necessarily count honesty as one of the qualities they are looking for in a candidate during elections.

The Davao City mayor also attacked Robredo's credibility and moral ascendancy.

"She is not called fake VP for no reason. She has tried to copy her late husband but has failed at every turn. She is facing an electoral protest for massive fraud during the 2016 elections," Sara said.

The Vice President's poll victory in 2016 is being challenged by her defeated rival Bongbong Marcos, who claimed of election fraud.

"She has refused to answer allegations of her relationship with a married man. She may or may not get away with these but we all know she is not forthcoming in everything," Sara said.

Robredo, however, has since denied rumors of having an affair with a married lawmaker.

"The reason why good moral character is not a requirement to run for Vice President is because we have so many Leni Robredos in this world. And if she insists in saying that you have to be honest to run for public office, then she must say goodbye to her dreams of becoming President," Sara said.

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In a separate statement, Robredo's spokesperson Barry Gutierrez hit Duterte-Carpio for her latest remarks against the Vice President.

"Salamat Mayor Sara, pinatunayan mong hindi ka talaga naniniwala na kailangan ang honesty sa public service. Babanat ka na nga lang, mga fake news pa ang ginamit mo," Gutierrez said.

"Ilang beses nang napatunayang peke ang mga ito. Magbasa din kasi ng totoong balita 'pag may time. Ginawa mo lahat ito para lang sa pag-iwas sa debate ng mga kinakampanya mong kandidato?" he said.

"Grabe namang tumbling ito para sa mga Hugpong na nagtatago. Mag reserba ka naman nang kaunti, madam, masyado pang maaga para mangampanya para sa 2022," Gutierrez added.

The Liberal Party which is chaired by Robredo, on Saturday defended the Vice President.

"Kapag kakampi nila hindi issue ang honesty pero kapag si VP Leni at hindi nila kaalyado ay issue na ito? Tama ba yun?," the LP said in a statement issued on Saturday.

The party said the candidates should be talking about more pressing issues such as unemployment, high prices, killings, and corruption.

"Ang dapat na nagsasalita ay ang kanilang mga kandidatong tumatakbo para sa Senado. At ang mga dapat pag-usapan ay ang mga hinahanapan ng sagot ng mga Pilipino: kawalan ng trabaho, mataas na presyo, pagpatay, at katiwalian," it said.

"Hindi kandidato si VP. Ang pag-atake sa kanya gamit ang fake news at paninira ng mga Marcos ay pagtatangkang ibaon ang mga usapin ng panloloko, pagnanakaw, at kapalpakan na kinasasangkutan ng mga kandidato nila sa Hugpong," the LP added. —Ted Cordero/LBG/KG, GMA News

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