Robredo: No connection between 'palit-ulo' statement's video and impeach rap vs. Duterte

Vice President Leni Robredo on Saturday denied that the release of her "palit-ulo" statement's video had something to do with the filing of an impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Iyon, iyong, iyong report na iyon sa UN commission matagal na iyon. February pa iyon. Nagkataon lang na ngayon nilabas kasi siguro gagamitin ang video sa isang conference ngayong March. Pero matagal na iyon. Matagal," Robredo said  during an event in Naga City.

DRCNet Foundation posted the video on YouTube last March 13. The video was to be played during the 60th United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs annual meeting in Vienna, Austria last March 16.

Robredo said she was not aware if the group of Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano was already planning the filing of the impeachment complaint during that time.

"Ewan ko lang kung noong panahon na iyon pinag-iisipin na nila ang impeachment complaint kasi hindi naman ako kabahagi sa grupo," she added.

Robredo made the clarification after Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez announced he was studying the possibility of filing an impeachment complaint against her for betrayal of public trust.

Alvarez did not reveal the possible basis for the impeachment complaint against Robredo, but he scored the vice president for releasing the "palit-ulo" statement.

Robredo denied that the video was released as part of coordinated efforts to destabilize the Duterte administration.

"Kung mayroon mang timing, siguro timing na lumabas sa media," she said.

Robredo also reiterated that Duterte himself had announced publicly that she could not have been involved in the destabilization efforts against his administration.

She also repeated Alejano's denial that she was part of their group.

'Very factual'

The vice president, meanwhile, said that her recorded statement about the supposed abuses of the police in its anti-drugs campaign is "very factual."

"Iyong statement na iyon galing sa mga kuwento din na pinapaabot sa opisina," Robredo said.

She added that based on the complaints received by the Office of the President, they sought the clarification and asked for data from the Philippine National Police and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

"In fact, sumubok kaming humingi ng datos sa DILG at saka sa PNP as early as January pa. Pero ang sulat kasi namin hindi sinagot," she said.

"Kasi ang mga tao naman na lumalapit sa amin humihingi ng proteksyon, humihingi ng tulong. Alangan naman wala kaming gawin," she added.

In her recorded statement, Robredo revealed the police's supposed "palit-ulo" scheme and warrantless searches on poor communities in Metro Manila.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella had said "political animals" could be using Robredo in advancing their political agenda. —Anna Felicia Bajo/ALG, GMA News