Leni fears Rody effect on international support

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Leni Robredo is worried that President Duterte’s continuous tirades against foreign leaders might drive away support from the international community.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Robredo said she always had that fear because keeping good ties with the international community is important.

“We expect a lot of assistance from them,” she said. “I am with everyone, hoping that this situation will not get worse… we don’t live like an island, we have many programs that depend so much on the international community. I hope this would not become a reason for them to withdraw their commitment of support.” 

She made the remarks following Duterte’s latest tirades against US President Barack Obama and the European Union.

Robredo said foreign agencies like the United Nations and the EU have so far remained supportive of the government’s anti-poverty programs.

Representatives from the UN and EU have confirmed their attendance to the upcoming Partnerships Against Poverty Summit, which her office will host next week, she added.

Attending the summit to be held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on Oct. 10 are 1,000 local government executives and representatives from various sectors.

“I hope he doesn’t speak that way. (Duterte) is the President so everything he says is policy,” Robredo said. 

She reminded all government officials that everything they say in public is no longer personal.

Robredo advised Duterte to make more friends in the international community rather than create enemies.

“It’s okay to make new friends but to remove some friends to pave the way for others, there is always room for others. He should reach out to as many countries as possible,” she said.

“It should not be an exclusive friendship with China or US, you can be friends to both the US, China or Russia.” 

Duterte earlier said he would build “new alliances” with China and Russia to cushion the fallout from the possible withdrawal of the US from the Philippines.

On Monday he told Obama “you can go to hell” over US criticism of his deadly anti-drug campaign, adding that he may eventually decide to “break up with America.”

He also lashed out anew at the EU, saying the bloc, which has also criticized his brutal crackdown, “better choose purgatory, hell is filled up.”

‘First 100 days’

Meanwhile, Robredo said the administration has achieved “so much” as far as the war on illegal drugs and criminality is concerned during Duterte’s first 100 days in office.

“It’s very obvious that the President is focused on curbing crime and drugs as well as on streamlining the processes in government offices to make it easier for the people to avail of its services,” she said.

Robredo said she thinks Duterte himself remains “dissatisfied” with what he has done so far.

“I think all of us should not be satisfied as of this time because 100 days is just a short time,” she said.

Robredo noted Duterte has asked for six more months to put an end to the drug menace and criminality.

“I hope we will achieve a lot more,” she said.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman urged Duterte to change his rhetoric and style of governance.

“Before real change can come in Duterte’s administration, it is necessary that he must first effect a genuine change in himself,” he said. – With Jess Diaz, Paolo Romero