Philippines' Duterte blasts 'scatterbrain' VP, says she cannot be trusted

By Martin Petty
MANILA, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo
Duterte hit out at his vice president on Tuesday, calling her a
"scatterbrain" who was discussing his war on drugs with
outsiders and could put the country in danger if given sensitive
information.
Duterte scolded Leni Robredo, an opposition leader whom he
said and could not be trusted, and said she was "treading on
dangerous ground" in her new role as co-head of his anti-drugs
task force.
He called a rare news conference on Tuesday to explain why
he would not go through with his plan to give a cabinet position
to Robredo, a political rival whom he has a testy relationship.
"I cannot appoint her as a cabinet member if that is the way
her mouth behaves, there can never be a position for her," he
said.
"The way she behaved right after I appointed her is not
inspiring."
Duterte gave former human rights lawyer Robredo the job of
drugs tsar this month in response to her critical remarks about
his campaign.
Robredo hit the ground running and ignored warnings that it
was a trap to embarrass her. She has met most stakeholders in
the campaign, including health and community groups, law
enforcement and anti-narcotics agencies.
She also met officials from the U.S. Embassy and the United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and has singled out China as
a major source of drugs in the Philippines.
Duterte accused her of overreaching in a role in which he
said she should give direction and guidance, rather than getting
involved in law enforcement.
Robredo's spokesman was not available for comment. Earlier
on Tuesday Robredo said she did not need a cabinet position.
The war on drugs, Duterte's centrepiece policy, has caused
international alarm over what United Nations experts have called
a "staggering" number of illegal killings by police, who say
they shot thousands of drug suspects only in self defence.
The United Nations Human Rights Council in July approved a
resolution to investigate the Philippines, and the International
Criminal Court is conducting a preliminary examination of
allegations of crimes against humanity.
Duterte said Robredo had presidential ambitions and should
not have access to classified materials. He said he would not
fire her, but state agencies should provide her with information
only on a "need-to-know" basis.
"She was grandstanding, talking right and left," Duterte
added. "You will just place the Republic of the Philippines in
jeopardy."
Duterte, who spoke for close to 90 minutes, also said people
should stop asking about his health, adding there were very few
74-year-old Filipinos who did not suffer from ailments.