Aquino lacks credibility

Aquino is better off focusing on his case pending before the Sandiganbayan, as well as taking care of his health.

For taking an oblique shot at President Rodrigo Duterte and his war on drugs, former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino found himself at the losing end as criticisms rained on him over the poor state of public order during his six years in office.

The Palace said yesterday instead of pontificating, Aquino should focus on the possible revival of the Mamasapano case.

Aquino said he found it “confusing” why President Rodrigo Duterte decided to appoint Vice President Leni Robredo as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) if he did not really trust her.

“He (Aquino) is better off focusing on his case pending before the Sandiganbayan, as well as taking care of his health than touching on a matter related to the dreaded drug menace that he never gave the attention and importance it deserves during his six-year presidency,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go added that Robredo was appointed so she could have the opportunity to resolve the drug problem herself after she referred to the drug war as “a failure.”

“President Duterte appointed her after she issued comments that the war on drugs is an ‘obvious failure,’” Go said. “The President indicated to her to go and offer what she can do to help.”

“You know President Aquino, your time had passed. You should have solved this problem on illegal drugs. The number of (drug) addicts, the syndicates and these drug lords have increased during your time,” the senator said.

“Now, President (Rodrigo) Duterte is pushing to resolve this. The campaign itself is hard. Your comment will not help. You are one of those who made it worse,” Go stated.

He reiterated that it must be the Filipinos who must be asked if they are satisfied with the drug war.

Go defended the drug war anew saying that the Duterte-led campaign goes after criminals to protect the innocent victims from harm.

He explained again that once a person used illegal drugs, they no longer think normally and they might harm anyone in their surroundings.

Go also advised Robredo to put protecting the lives of innocent people first on her list and shield them from drug-related crimes.

Panelo, moreover, recalled how it was during Aquino’s term when the drug problem allegedly “ballooned in magnitude” due to his negligence.

In his previous speeches, Duterte blamed Aquino for being remiss in his job to address the drug problem.

Duterte said his predecessor did not realize the extent of the drug problem because he simply did not know the magnitude of the issue.

Last week, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), along with former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director incumbent Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and family of the slain Special Action Force 44 commandos, trooped to the Ombudsman to revive Aquino’s criminal case.

In the motion, the VACC called on Ombudsman Samuel Martires to pursue the homicide since they have new evidence supporting the filing of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicides against Aquino and other officials tagged in the Mamasapano slaughter.

Meanwhile, Panelo said being elected the second highest executive official of the government does not automatically make Robredo trustworthy.

“Ms. Robredo must, however, understand that one’s election to the Vice Presidency does not automatically clothe the occupant with trustworthiness. Trust is earned,” Panelo said.

He reiterated that Robredo’s “missteps,” particularly when she started meeting foreign institutions and personalities who have “prejudged” the drug war and seeking classified information, did not earn Duterte’s trust and confidence.

“Trust comes into play only as regards the non-transmission of state secrets that imperils the safety of the Filipino people and the sovereignty of the country,” he added.

He said Robredo’s new task is “a rare chance” to help in the campaign against illegal drugs, instead of just criticizing the administration.