Vice President Leni Robredo speaks before the ASEAN Business and Investments Summit in Parañaque City on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News



MANILA - Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday reminded the Duterte administration not to use officials of the previous leadership to cover up for its shortcomings.

This after the Department of Transportation filed plunder and graft complaints against several top officials of the Aquino administration over the P3.8-billion maintenance contract for the problematic MRT-3.

"Ako, mahirap magparatang, pero sa akin, kapag may nagkasala, tama lamang na sampahan ng kaso. Iyong atin lang ninanais, sana iyong pagsampa ng kaso ay base sa datos na maayos. Hindi siya ginagawang dahilan para lang maghanap ng scapegoat para sa mga bagay na hindi nagagawa," Robredo told reporters in Caloocan City.

The Vice President, an Aquino ally, however, refused to speculate on whether the recent filing of charges against officials of the Aquino administration was enough reason to say that the Duterte administration is cracking down on members of the opposition.

"Dapat kung mag-file ng kaso, ito ay base sa ebidensya na mayroon talagang pagkakasala na ginawa. Ang nakakatakot lang, baka ginagawa ito para magpasa ng blame sa iba. Ito iyong dapat hindi pinapayagan," she said.

Among those charged by the DOTr were former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, former Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, former Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and former MRT General Manager Roman Buenafe.

Robredo chairs the Liberal Party, which counts Roxas, Abaya and Abad among its stalwarts.