Panelo to Robredo: Pinagbigyan ka na nga, babastusin mo pa

It was Vice President Leni Robredo and her political party who pushed President Rodrigo Duterte to fire her as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Illegal Drugs (ICAD), presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Monday.

"'Yung presidente mismo ng Partido Liberal was asking the President to fire her... 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 an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

"In other words, you cannot do that to the President. In-appoint ka na nga, pinagbigyan ka na nga ng pagkakataon makatulong sa bansa pagkatapos ay babastusin mo pa. Kung ikaw naman ang nasa lugar ni Presidente, ano ang gagawin mo?" he added.

Last week, Robredo said that Duterte should tell it to her face if he no longer wants her in ICAD after he expressed that he cannot trust her.

Duterte sacked Robredo from her ICAD post on Sunday, just over two weeks after she accepted Malacañang's appointment for her.

Panelo reiterated that Robredo sought the wrong audience and did not ask the President directly about her queries regarding her mandate.

"As always, she talked—not with her appointing authority—but right in front of the cameras asking the President on her supposed mandate," Panelo said.

'Sayang'

At the Senate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III described Robredo's short stint at ICAD as "sayang."

"The appointment of the Vice President as ICAD co-chair is based on trust. Once trust is lost, the position is lost. We have a word for it in Filipino — Sayang," Sotto said in a message to reporters.

In the 19 days since Robredo accepted the post, she has visited Market 3 in Navotas City, a hotspot in the police’s anti-drug operations; met with reformed drug users in Dinalupihan, Bataan; and gone to a drug rehabilitation center in Quezon City.

She has also met with anti-drugs stakeholders such as the Dangerous Drugs Board, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Department of Health.

'Memo not needed'

Panelo said that the Palace doesn't need to release any formal document for Robredo's removal as ICAD co-chair. "Hindi na kailangan 'yun. Basta nag-announce na si Presidente na she was removed from office, 'yun na 'yun," he said.

"'Yung mga inappoint ng Presidente, at the pleasure of the President 'yun. 'Yun na 'yun, hindi na kailangan na sulatan pa siya," he added.

He also described as "nonsense" the criticisms stating that Duterte was threatened with the possibility of Robredo becoming a viable presidential candidate in 2022.

"If the President had that in mind, he would not have appointed her in the first place," Panelo said in a separate interview on ANC.

Panelo was one of those who previously urged Robredo to accept Duterte's offer on the ICAD position as he described it as a "ladder to the presidency."

The presidential spokesperson was asked whether a dialogue between Duterte and Robredo is still possible after what happened. "Everything is possible," he answered.

Not backing down

Robredo on Monday said she is not backing out in the fight against illegal drugs.

“Kung sa tingin nila matatapos ito dito, hindi nila ako kilala. Nagsisimula pa lang ako,” Robredo said in a press conference in her home province of Camarines Sur.

“Sa mga susunod na araw, magbibigay ako ng ulat sa bayan. Sasabihin ko ang aking natuklasan at aking mga rekomendasyon,” Robredo added.

In 2016, the Vice President resigned as housing czar after she was asked to desist from attending all Cabinet meetings due to "irreconcilable differences."

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police on Monday said Robredo's termination as ICAD co-chair will not affect the government's war against illegal drugs.

"Makakaasa ang ating mga kababayan na patuloy na magiging relentless at walang tigil ang ating laban sa mga high-value targets alinsunod sa batas at procedures at paggalang sa karapatang pangtao," PNP spokesperson Bernard Banac added. —KBK/KG, GMA News