Palace says burden of proof lies with Naga

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte does not need to prove his claim that Naga was a hotbed of illegal drugs, Malacañang said Monday, August 20.

Speaking to Palace reporters, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. maintained that the President has access to all “available” information on the supposed prevalence of illegal drugs in Naga.

“He doesn’t have to do that. He already has access to information. He said it, let it be,” Roque said, when asked if Duterte will present a proof that Naga is indeed a hotbed of shabu.

“I can only say that he has access to all available information that only a President has access to,” he added.

In a speech delivered on August 14, the President branded Naga City as once a “hotbed” of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride), as he again declared his aversion to having Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo assume the presidency if he resigns before his six-year term ends.

He said he had nothing against Robredo but he believed that the vice-president could not “improve on anything” if she takes over.

The Naga City government has issued a resolution to express in “unequivocal terms” its indignation over Duterte’s claim, which was “apparently uttered irresponsibly and without factual basis.”

Roque said Naga officials should not be “onion-skinned” about Duterte’s remark.

“’Yung mga taong gobyerno should not be onionskinned, okay,” he said.

(The local government should not be onion-skinned, okay.)

“So kung talagang hindi siya hotbed (of) shabu, well, eh hindi siya hotbed sa shabu. Dapat huwag silang masyadong masaktan dahil alam nila ang katotohanan. Baka naman bato-bato sa langit, ang tamaan ay huwag magalit,” Roque said.

(If that is indeed not hotbed [of] shabu, well, it’s not a hotbed of shabu. They should not be hurt because they know the truth. When stones are thrown from heavens, those who are hit must not be angry.)

Roque instead called on the local government of Naga City to prove that their area was “shabu-free.”

He said they should provide “constructive” evidence to dispute the President’s claim.

“Kung sa tingin nila mali ang Presidente, hindi hotbed of shabu ang Naga, patunayan nila. Labanan nila ‘yong mga nagbebenta ng droga sa Naga. At patunayan nilang hindi talaga hotbed of shabu, na shabu-free iyong kanilang mga bayan. It should be constructive particularly on the part of public officers,” he said.

(If they think the President is wrong it Naga is not a hotbed of shabu, prove it. They should go against those who are selling illegal drugs in Naga. And they should prove that Naga is really not a hotbed of shabu, that their city is shabu-free. It should be constructive particularly on the part of public officers.)