Robredo-Alvarez word war continues

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez shot back at the camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday and defended his plan to impeach Robredo following her recorded video message at a United Nations (UN) forum in which she criticized the government for alleged human rights abuses committed in its war on drugs.

In an interview with radio station DZMM in which he refused to call Robredo “vice president,” Alvarez said that it was the vice president who committed an “irresponsible act” in sending the video message which he claimed damaged the reputation of the Philippines before the eyes of the international community.

This statement from Alvarez is the latest in the tit-for-tat between the two camps after the House speaker tagged Robredo as one of those behind the filing of an impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Iyong responsible yung act ni Leni Robredo—hindi ko matawag na VP kasi hindi tayo sigurado kung talagang nanalo yan—yung kanyang act na nagpadala ng video clip doon sa United Nations, iyon ang talagang very irresponsible,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez said that Robredo’s remarks painted a negative picture of the country as they would have severe repercussions on its economy and tourism.

“Sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, ngayon lang po nangyari yan may opisyal ng gobyerno na nagpadala ng video clip doon at walang pangundangan na siniraan ang ating bayan. Malaki po ang epekto nun sa ekonomiya, sa tourism, painting the country as bad na hindi naman totoo,” said Alvarez, ignoring the latest statement from the European Union (EU) which said that it was the country’s war on drugs, not Robredo’s message, that could have effects on the country’s trade with the bloc.

Aside from betrayal of public trust, Alvarez was also studying treason as another ground for impeachment, an idea raised by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

“Ang pinag-aaralan ko po dito ay yung betrayal of public trust. Dahil po ngayon lang po nangyari yan. Under any standard talagang mali po talaga yun. Ah pinag-aaralan ko rin yung treason if it can be committed in times of peace. Pero basically treason is committed in times of war,” he said.

Alvarez said that his lawyers would use the congressional break to study their case against Robredo to ensure that it would stand scrutiny in the Senate which would function as an impeachment court if the complaint hurdles the House of Representatives.

“Kaya nga sabi ko pinag-aaralan ko. Hindi lang naman po naman yung impeach mo dun sa House of Representatives. Ang tinitingnan ko dit ay yung substance. Kinakailangan matibay ito at it can stand trial sa impeachment court. Ayokong mag-file ng impeachment complaint tapos hindi ko naman kaya panindigan yan sa impeachment trial.”