Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 25) — President Rodrigo Duterte found an ally in his vice president for his fight against crimes, especially against illegal drugs.
But Vice President Leni Robredo made it clear: human rights must be respected and the rule of law upheld.
“Naniniwala tayo tulad ng paniniwala ng Pangulo na kailangan talagang sugpuin ang krimen lalo na yung illegal drugs siguro hindi lang tayo tugma,” she said on the sidelines of the Istorya ng Pag-asa photo gallery caravan launch in Quezon City.
“Naniniwala po ako sa pagpapatupad ng anti-drug campaign. Sa pagsasaayos ng peace and order hindi dapat labagin yung karapatang pantao. Kailangan yung rule of law. Kung ano yung nasa batas, nasa konstitusyon nasusunod pa din,” she said.
Robredo added the law is is the weapon of the poor against the abuses of those in power.
In his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Duterte said his war on drugs will continue, unremitting and unrelenting. He advised his critics to use their influence to educate people on the evils of illegal drugs instead of condemning authorities.
Support on other issues
The Vice President also threw her support for some of the President’s pronouncements in his SONA, including his appeal for Congress to immediately pass the National Land Use Act to “ensure the rational and sustainable use of our land and physical resources.”
She backed the “zero balance billing” for indigent patients and the implementation of the Reproductive Health law.
Robredo also supported President Duterte’s call for responsible mining, but said she would have liked that the Alternative Mining Management Act be certified as urgent.
“Yung pangangalaga ng ating kapaligiran, yung tungkol sa mining, ang gusto natin na sana na-certify as urgent din yung alternative mining management act kasi napakahalagang mga ammendments ang nakalakap dito para lalo mas maging effective yung pagpapatupad at pagprotect ng ating kapaligiran,” Robredo said.
On the death penalty
But Robredo parts ways with Duterte on the controversial issue of capital punishment.
The vice president stood firm on her position to oppose the reimposition of death penalty, which Duterte asked Congress to revive for heinous crimes, especially drug trafficking.
“Yung sakin talagang ever since naman very vocal ako na kontra ako sa death penalty kaya hanggang ngayon pinagdarasal natin na hindi yun pumasa sa Senado,” Robredo said.
