(Eagle News)–Two opposition senators on Wednesday, July 11, defended Vice President Leni Robredo from President Rodrigo Duterte’s accusations she was incompetent.
“Vice President Leni has shown her competence through compassionate, empowering, and responsible leadership,” Senator Francis Pangilinan, who is president of the opposition Liberal Party, said in a statement.
According to Senator Bam Aquino, “ang tunay na pamantayan ng kakayanan ng isang lider ay paghanap ng solusyon sa mga problema ng taumbayan.”
He said Robredo has “helped” poor communities.
“The President’s remarks are unfortunate, given that they are untrue, and more so because they digress from the core issues that hound Filipinos every day,” Pangilinan said.
President Duterte said on Tuesday, July 10, he would not step down as President as it would make Robredo the country’s chief executive.
“Siya, I don’t think she can ever be ready to govern a country. Reason? Incompetence. My resignation is addressed to the people para makapili sila ng gusto nila,” Duterte said.
The President had earlier said he was “willing to cut (his) term to be co-terminus with the start of transition period” to federalism, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.