Robredo to ICAD: Let's stop senseless killings in drug war

Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday called on the Inter-agency Committee Against Illegal Drugs (ICAD) to work on stopping senseless killings in the war against illegal narcotics, saying the campaign can succeed even without bloodshed.

Robredo made the pitch when she was presiding her first ICAD meeting as its co-chair, an appointment she accepted two days ago.

"Because of the many senseless killings that accompanied police operation, it has reached a certain level of notoriety that when you say tokhang, it is a war against the poor," Robredo said.

"It is incumbent upon us public officials na matanggal iyong kaisipan na iyon…na baka panahon na para palitan ang kampanya ng mas epektibo pero walang namamatay," she added.

"Naniniwala ako na sa police operations, anything can happen. Iyong kinokontra natin iyong pinagpaplanuhan, at pagpatay ng mga walang kamuang muang. Iyon ang aking posisyon and I feel so strongly about it."

Robredo sat at the center table with ICAD co-chair and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Chief Aaron Aquino, Dangerous Drugs Board head Catalino Cuy, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año and Trade Secretary Mon Lopez.

“I want to take this opportunity to contribute in whatever way I can. I look at my appointment here as a signal that the President is open to listening to a fresh perspective,” Robredo said.

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Robredo to ICAD after she criticized his anti-illegal drug campaign for the number of drug suspects killed in police operations.

At least 5,700 drug suspects have been killed in police operations since June 30, 2016. The number, however, could reach as much as 20,000 based on the tally of human rights organizations if drug-related deaths committed by unidentified gunmen are included.

National Capital Region Police Office OIC Brigadier General Debold Sinas earlier in the day said they will follow Robredo's instructions, but maintained that police operatives need to defend themselves if armed drug suspects fight back.

"We will abide whatever the instructions of the Vice President but di naman siguro sa manual namin na pinagbawal na to defend ourselves. We will follow also the procedure," Sinas said.

A day after she accepted the position, Robredo said she would push for zero killings in the government’s anti-narcotics drive. —KBK, GMA News