Robredo blasts Aguirre for making false accusations

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday criticized Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and in effect accused him of making false accusations in the public, days after the Cabinet member insisted that there would be an investigation into the links between some critics of the administration and efforts to destabilize it.

Speaking to reporters in Pinagbayanan, Batangas, the vice president said that instead of ensuring justice for everybody, it seemed that Aguirre was the one spreading untruthful information among the public.

“Meron tayong Department of Justice na iyong head, may mga sinasabing hindi totoo. Tingin ko nakakatakot iyon kase iyong Department of Justice dapat siya iyong nangunguna na sinisiguro na 'di ba? Iyong parang, parang iyong justice will prevail over all of us,” Robredo said.

Two days ago, Aguirre rejected the call of the opposition Liberal Party to withdraw his order for the National Bureau of Investigation to probe into possible collusion among some critics of President Rodrigo Duterte allegedly to destabilize his government.

“I will be remiss in my duty if I have not issued that order,” he said.

Aguirre issued Department Order 385 last week directing the NBI to look into the alleged meeting of some opposition lawmakers prior to the siege of Marawi City by Islamist fighters from the Maute Group and the Abu Sayyaf.

He wrote that the supposed link of “some senators and opposition” leaders should be investigated.

This order came days after an embarrassing about-face from the secretary of justice following his claim on Wednesday last week that he was set to order an investigation into Sen. Bam Aquino’s recent visit to Marawi City and the supposed connection of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano to the Islamist militants.

Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez had already cleared the name of Aquino of false accusations regarding his Marawi visit even before Aguirre’s “revelation.”

Aguirre later that day claimed that he was simply “misquoted” by the media, something that reporters who covered him denied.

He had been called a “troll” and “clown” for this.

The vice president said trust in the DOJ as an institution would be eroded if Aguirre would release spurious information.

“Kapag iyong mga sinasabi niya hindi totoo 'di, nawawala iyong tiwala ng tao sa institusyon mismo. Hindi lang naman ito sa kanya, pero sa institusyon,” she said.

Robredo said that because of the myriad of problems that nation was facing this was time for everybody to protect and preserve democracy and freedom.

She added that institutions that protected people’s rights should also be shielded from efforts to undermine them.

“Pero panahon ito na tayo-tayo magkapareho man ang pulitika natin o hindi, pagtulungan natin na siguruhin na pinapangalagaan natin ang demokrasya na matagal nating nakamtam, pinapangalagaan natin na iyong mga institusyon na magpro-protect ng ating karapatan ay patuloy na magiging metatag,” she said, emphasizing that today was not the time for politics.