Politicking is never too early

 LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March L. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY -- Whether VP Leni Robredo’s allies wanted it or not, she cannot work with ease for President Duterte’s administration because in the first place the two top officials belong to opposing political parties.

            In fact, when VP Robredo was offered by the president to co-chair the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs, her political allies already told her not to fall into a trap.

Pundits saw two things when she accepted the position of co-chair of ICAD. It is either that she just lost the confidence of her political allies or they really wanted her not to succeed.

But, she went against the advice and accepted the challenge that was offered her after Duterte felt offended by her criticisms on the latter’s war on drugs.

She previously headed the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council or HUDCC in the first year of President Duterte but resigned December 2016 when she was asked to stop attending cabinet meetings.

For a second time, VP Robredo was fired last Sunday, this time as co-chair of the ICAD, less than 20 days after she accepted President Duterte’s invitation, the latter saying that she was not trusted because she was with the political opposition.

Contrary to Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo’s statement that VP Robredo could not be trusted to hold confidential information and state secrets, the reason is politics.  

VP Robredo’s appointment is apparently Duterte’s reaction to her criticisms about the administration’s war on drugs, saying further that she has so many complaints. The President said, “If she wants, I can commission her to be the drug czar.”

“Now if you are better than me, I’ll hand to you full powers over the drug war. I’ll give you six months. Let’s see if you can handle it,” said the President.

Aside from political analysts and commentators, presidential mouthpiece Panelo, Senators Tito Sotto and Bong Go were heard telling the media that she should accept the offer to help in the fight against drugs.

By the way, she cannot even give orders as co-chair of ICAD because she has to agree with more than 15 heads of government agencies that are the members of the committee. Duterte’s men knew that.

That is why the President and his men already had the impression that VP Robredo would fail, or that they would see to it that she will not succeed because doing so would qualify her as presidential bet which other aspirants would not want.

Of course, the administration would not want anybody from other political opposition parties to be elected president for fear of retaliation or revenge, as what happened to Presidents Marcos, Estrada, and GMA.

Lately, President Duterte admitted that he failed in his fight against illegal drugs despite the help of the PNP, armed forces and other law enforcement agencies. Now, how can VP Robredo succeed without the power to issue orders and with early politicians not wanting her to? Zero.

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Legit businessmen whose eateries and stores around Tabora Park along Magsaysay Avenue and T. Alonzo Street were already inspected by personnel from Baguio city hall complained of unfair competition or unequal treatment under the laws.

They said, there are businesses in Tabora Park, particularly the food stalls operating within a few meters from the Pilando building have no water sink, no comfort rooms and serve food on plates covered with cellophane because they do not have water to wash the dishes.

They say that they have paid their business fees and have come up with city hall’s requirements. They are calling the attention of the concerned offices under Mayor Magalong to enforce city ordinances equally.

The legit businessmen hate to say it but are suspicious that something is not right that is why these food stalls are allowed to operate.