MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Mayor and the president's daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio on Saturday slammed Vice President Leni Robredo for her recent comments criticizing candidates who are dishonest.
“Leni Robredo should avoid commenting about honesty and integrity. Her honesty has been questioned since day one of her term as vise president,” Duterte-Carpio said.
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“She is not called fake VP for no reason,” she added, in apparent reference to election protest filed by defeated vice presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos, who has said the May 2016 election was marred by massive cheating.
Duterte-Carpio — who serves as Hugpong Pagbabago campaign manager — sparked controversy for saying honesty is not an election issue because “everybody lies,” in response to questions on Imee Marcos’ educational background. The daughter of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos is a senatorial candidate under Duterte-Carpio’s regional party.
Commenting on the presidential daughter’s remarks, Robredo said dishonest officials should not run for public office, adding that honesty is a “big factor” in knowing a person’s integrity.
In the same statement on Saturday, Duterte-Carpio listed Robredo’s supposed dishonesty.
“She (Robredo) has tried to copy her late husband but has failed at every turn. She is facing an electoral protest for massive fraud during the 2016 elections. She has refused to answer allegations of her relationship with a married man. She may or may not get away with these but we all know she is not forthcoming in everything,” Duterte-Carpio said.
“The reason why good moral character is not a requirement to run for Vice President is because we have so many Leni Robredos in this world,” she added.
“And if she insists in saying that you have to be honest to run for public office, then she must say goodbye to her dreams of becoming president,” she continued.
In retaliation to the presidential daughter’s statement, Robredo's spokesperson, Barry Gutierrez, hit Duterte-Carpio for hurling “fake news” against the vice president.
“Salamat Mayor Sara, pinatunayan mong di ka talaga bilib sa honesty in public service. Banat mo, fake news ang gamit na ilang beses nang napatunayang peke. Mag totoong balita din pag may time,” he said.