Leila De Lima Defends Leni Robredo Against Duterte Claims

Leila De Lima Defends Leni Robredo Against Duterte Claims

Mamamayang Liberal party-list Representative Leila De Lima has firmly denied allegations that Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo has aligned herself with the Dutertes. De Lima emphasized Robredo’s steadfast dedication to human rights and holding those in power accountable.

In a statement released Wednesday, De Lima responded to former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, an ally, who accused Robredo of remaining silent about the Duterte family’s legal issues due to her friendship with Vice President Sara Duterte. Trillanes claimed in a recent interview that Robredo and her former campaign manager, Senator Bam Aquino, opposed surrendering former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

De Lima Highlights Robredo’s Commitment to Justice

“As a friend and ally, I can attest to VP/Mayor Leni’s unwavering commitment to justice and human rights. No one who stood with us during the darkest days of impunity and persecution can honestly accuse her of being soft on accountability, least of all on Duterte,” De Lima stated.

She expressed concern about the negative impact these accusations have had. “We do not know what has prompted these claims. But we do know their effect: division, distraction, and disinformation. Instead of focusing on extracting accountability for those who have done something wrong, we ourselves are splitting apart,” she added.

Though De Lima does not speak for Robredo, she recalled a recent encounter that contradicts Trillanes’ assertions. “I remember that when I was in Bicol with VP/Mayor Leni, just days after Duterte was arrested, she said in front of the media that this is a first step towards accountability and justice.”

De Lima further shared, “She also said, while discussing due process regarding Duterte’s case, she cannot help but remember the time that I was arrested and detained despite the merely trumped-up cases. For her, accountability must apply to all. There is no space for double standards regarding the justice we seek.”

Trillanes’ Claims and Historical Context

Trillanes argued that an alliance between Robredo and Vice President Sara Duterte began during the 2022 national elections. Robredo ran for president with the Team Robredo-Pangilinan ticket, while Sara Duterte was the vice presidential candidate for the Uniteam.

“During the course of the campaign, they said that their position with the ICC is that they will not recognize its jurisdiction and they will not hand over Digong (former president Duterte) to the ICC if Leni becomes president,” Trillanes said. He added that Bam Aquino even requested delaying the issuance of an arrest warrant against Duterte to avoid hurting their candidacy.

Trillanes concluded, “There is really an alliance, there is one ever since, that’s the context, and it is in these conversations that we knew about their stand in terms of making the Dutertes accountable. That’s why I said in 2028, I’m not inclined to support Leni because she is aligned and friends with Sara Duterte.”

Robredo and Sara Duterte’s Longstanding Friendship

Their friendship dates back to 2015 when Robredo was the vice presidential candidate of the administration, and Duterte was running for president as an opposition candidate. Robredo met Sara Duterte in Davao City and expressed hope that politics would not affect their friendship.

“Magkaibigan kami (We’re friends),” Robredo told reporters. “Even before, when I come [to Davao], I always find time to talk to her. She was mayor when my husband was DILG secretary. So we’re friends.”

Most recently, in September 2024, amid rumors of a rift within the Uniteam of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Vice President Sara Duterte visited Robredo in Naga during the Peñafrancia Festival. Robredo’s former spokesperson confirmed the visit and shared a statement from Robredo saying, “While she was in Naga City for the Peñafrancia Festival, VP Sara Duterte took the opportunity to visit me at my home. The conversation we had was personal and not political.”

For more news and updates on Philippine politics, visit Filipinokami.com.

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