Co-chair challenges Robredo to join anti-drug ops; Leni accepts

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Aaron Aquino has challenged his new co-chair of the Inter-agency Council on Anti-Illegal Drugs, Vice President Leni Robredo, to join an anti-drug operation.

Aquino made the remark after Robredo met him and other members of the ICAD at the Office of the Vice President in Quezon City.

"Okay iyong meeting namin today. In our coming meetings, I hope mas maraming matutunan si Vice President on law enforcement," Aquino said at a joint press conference with Robredo.

"Kaya ma'am, I would ask you to join one of our operations. I will be there, together with you,” he added.

Aquino invited Robredo to be with the PDEA from the planning stage to the actual conduct of the operation.

"Para ma-feel po ninyo kung paano po ang ginagawa ng ating law enforcement agents. Challenge ko po sa inyo, para kung meron kaming lapses, defects, makikita niyo,” Aquino said.

Aquino said this would give the Vice President the opportunity to know the truth on the anti-illegal drug campaign instead of being limited to the different testimonies as regards the war on drugs.

“Para po makita niyo ang actual operation, hindi lang po sa dahil sinabi ni ganito o ganyan,” Aquino said.

Robredo accepted the challenge.

“Gustong-gusto ko iyan,” Robredo said.

Robredo said Aquino’s previous comments on her supposed lack of competence as anti-drug czar did not bother her.

“I assured Director General Aquino not to worry about that... Huwag na pag-usapan iyong mga nasabi before moving forward," Robredo said.

"We want to improve the policy, and I was clear that I don’t like that the anti-drug campaign is victimizing the poor,” he added.

Aquino, who was able to see and talk with the Vice President for the first time on Friday, agreed with Robredo that all was well between them.

“It is the first time I saw her. I never had the chance to talk to her before, so definitely I felt awkward kanina. Pero ngayon, medyo at home na ako sa kanya,” Aquino said with a smile. —NB, GMA News