MANILA - Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday called on her supporters to keep their courage and calm amid what she called as a period of darkness and instability.
"Tama 'yung sabi ninyo na maraming kaguluhan ngayon pero ang hinihingi po natin ngayon ay hinahon. Hinihingi din natin ay lakas ng loob dahil sa panahon na maraming gulo, sa panahon ng kadiliman, kailangan nating lakasan ang ating lakas ng loob," Robredo told supporters who visited her office.
(You are correct in saying that we are besieged by chaos but what we are asking for is calm. We also ask you to keep your courage because in a time of trouble and darkness, we need to be brave.)
Robredo said several groups have asked for her to raise the alarm on alleged irregularities in the government's anti-narcotics crackdown and insufficient action of authorities on rampant killings.
The Vice President Raised the issue before a United Nations body, but her move was deemed by critics as an alleged betrayal of public trust, prompting them to file an impeachment case filed against her.
Robredo stood by her UN message, saying she only told the truth though she could not substantiate her claims in order to protect her sources.
She added that her criticism of some government policies is not aimed claiming the presidency for herself.
"Iyung ating pagpapahayag ng pagkontra sa mga polisiya ng gobyerno, hindi po iyun nangangahulugan na gusto nating agawin ang posisyon. Wala po tayong ganoong pangarap. Ang gusto lang natin ay mapakinggan ang ating mga boses, pakinggan ang ating hinain para may pagbabagong magawa," she said.
(Our dissent on some policies does not mean that we want to take any position. We have no such dream. We only want our voices, our complaints to be heard so that reforms could be made.)
President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday said he wouldn't be surprised if Robredo is involved in the impeachment against him and later added that she is in a rush to be president.
Duterte however rejected Wednesday the ouster raps against his second in command.