Robredo to Duterte critics: Resolve cases within Philippines first

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday said she hopes the Philippines can resolve complaints and criticism against President Rodrigo Duterte internally amid complaints that have been filed and that may yet be filed at the International Criminal Court.

“Tingin ko hindi natin mahihinto kahit sino na gusto mag-avail ng mga prosesong available. Pero siyempre sa atin, bilang bansa, mas gusto natin na ni-reresolve natin iyong mga problema on our own,” Robredo said in an interview at the Brigada Eskwela 2017.

“Isa naman tayong sovereign na bansa kaya mahalaga din na ipakita ng ating institusyon na hindi niya isinasantabi iyong mga reklamo ng sambayanan para hindi kinakailangan ng maghahanap ng recourse sa iba,” she added.

Robredo also said that she hoped that each complaint of Filipino citizens will be addressed by the concerned institutions.

The vice president reaped criticism from netizens and from Duterte allies for sending a video message on the Philippine war on drugs to a side event of a UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs meeting in Vienna, Austria in March. House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and other administration allies said her message demeaned the Philippines and was somehow a betrayal of public trust.

The vice president was reacting on Tuesday to potential cases to be filed against Duterte before the International Criminal Court after the House Committee of Justice dismissed the first impeachment complaint against him on Monday. 

The first complaint filed by Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano was junked due to insufficient substance. He then said he will consider filing a case against Duterte before the ICC.

A communication filed by Jude Josue Sabio, the lawyer of self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobat is also pending before the ICC.

“Hindi ko alam kung mag-po-prosper [iyan] pero iyong alam ko isa sa mga requirements sa ICC parang sana siya iyong last recourse,” Robredo explained.

'Resolve cases within local courts'

Like Duterte, Robredo will also face an impeachment complaint filed against her by Marcos loyalist Oliver Lozano and radio broadcaster Melchor Chavez, representing the Volunteers for Good Government . The complaint was filed before the office of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez but has yet to be endorsed by a member of the House of Representatives.

The complainants criticized the vice president’s statement on alleged extrajudicial killings and the “palit-ulo” (head switching) scheme amid the government’s war against illegal drugs in a video addressed to the United Nations.

Robredo said they were not given a chance to determine if the complaint against her had a basis.

“Iyong sa atin lang, iyong mga reklamo na idudulog sa korte, sa DOJ, sa fiscal, parang, mabigyan siya ng resolusyon na maayos para hindi kinakailangan na naghihingi tayo ng tulong sa iba,” the vice president said.