Senator Francis Pangilinan defended the leadership of Vice President Leni Robredo after President Rodrigo Duterte said she is “incompetent” and would be unfit to lead the country.
Duterte’s scathing criticism of Robredo came hours after she declared she was willing to lead the opposition. Pangilinan underscored that the opposition being formed “revolves around her compassionate, empowering, and responsible leadership.”
“Her declaration to lead this coalition only formalizes what has been her role since her election into office two years ago: a stabilizing balance to those in power and their mistaken policies and their abuse of the people’s trust that put them in power,” Pangilinan said in a statement Wednesday (July 11).
”Now, amid the naked rule of force, utter disrespect for life, and abandonment of the people, especially the poor, Vice President Leni is the voice of reason, calm, and sobriety,” he continued.
The President said Monday he would resign next year to give way to a new president who would oversee the transition to federalism if a new constitution is ratified.
However, he clarified yesterday evening in an ambush interview with Palace reporters that he would not be resigning to make way for Robredo to take the helm, but would want an election for a new president to take his place.