Labag sa batas ang barilin agad ang NPA, dapat merong proseso - Leni Robredo

Since the beginning, you will only hear the voice of our Vice President Leni Robredo when she has something to defy that President Rodrigo has said. Well not necessarily all her statements are slamming PRRD but most are.

This time VP Leni underscored that democracy is important as well as the rule of law. This is as she was sending her warning to Duterte about his statement that soldiers can shoot to kill armed members of the AFP.

Robredo believes that if we shoot to kill the rebels then it will undermine the rule of law and democracy. the same way as it will be a slight dip from observing the rules and procedures for penalizing rebels.

“Parang hindi naman ganoon iyong sinasabi ng Konstitusyon natin at mga batas na nandiyan. Ang sinasabi ng ating mga batas, na kapag mayroong nagkasala, mayroong proseso para alamin kung totoo ba iyong paratang, at mayroon namang nararapat na penalidad sa mga paratang,”

In a speech in Sual, Pangasinan, Duterte said that soldiers should shoot to kill all NPAs because if they don't then the NPAs will kill them.

“So what will be my order to them? Di shoot them. They will kill you anyway. If there is an armed NPA there or terrorist that’s holding firearms, shoot and tell any…ako na lang magsagot (I’ll answer for you). You just shut up,”

Robredo disagreed to this statement as it will, according to her weaken the rule of law and the democratic institutions.

“Kung pinapayag natin na ilagay sa ating mga kamay iyong batas, parang pinapawalang-bisa natin iyong ating demokrasya, pinapawalang-bisa natin iyong rule of law at iyon iyong simula para magkagulo-gulo tayo,”

Kaya tayo mayroong mga institusyon dahil itong mga institusyon na ito ang nagsisigurado na parating maayos iyong pang-araw-araw na pagkabuhay natin. Kapag sasabihin natin na puwede tayong magpatay kasi mayroon tayong binibintangan na gumawa ng krimen, anong mangyayari sa ating lahat, ‘di ba?”

The peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP); its political wing, the National Democratic Front (NDF); and its armed wing, the NPA were terminated last week when Duterte signed Proclamation No. 360.

Duterte reiterated that he had given too much too soon to the rebels and questioned their sincerity.

Robredo, on the other hand said that the termination should only be temporary as it is the government's duty to find peace and find ways to achieve it.

Source: Inquirer