AGENCIES TAKING the lead in the government’s anti-drug campaign said they respect President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to fire Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo as co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).
“PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) respects and believes in the wisdom of the President. Whatever happens, PDEA will continue to carry out its mandate to rid of the country of illegal drugs with utmost sincerity and integrity,” PDEA Director-General Aaron Aquino told Philippine News Agency when sought for a comment.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, has assured the public campaign against illegal drugs will continue to intensify, particularly for high-value targets.
“The President has spoken. The PNP respects the decision of the President terminating the services of VP Leni Robredo as ICAD Co-Chair,” Banac said in a statement.
“We assure the public that the campaign against high-value targets of illegal drugs will remain relentless following the rule of law and with utmost respect for human rights,” he added.
Robredo was booted out of ICAD after the President’s revelation that he was not satisfied with her performance as drug czar.
Robredo was supposed to help her ICAD co-chair, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Aaron Aquino, in addressing the drug menace in the country until June 30, 2022.
Robredo was appointed by Duterte as ICAD co-chair on October 31, following her claims that the current administration’s drug war is “absolutely not working”.
Duterte initially wanted Robredo to hold a Cabinet rank as ICAD co-chair, but later on, changed his mind for fear that the Vice President might reveal “classified” matters about the government’s anti-narcotics campaign.
The Chief Executive admitted on Saturday that he does not fully trust Robredo when it comes to keeping the drug war records as secret, after she reportedly sought foreign entities’ advice on the Philippines’ campaign against illegal drugs.(By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)
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