Robredo: I’ll do my anti-drugs job with or without Cabinet post

Vice President Leni Robredo intends to proceed "full steam ahead" in her work as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD), whether the position has a Cabinet rank or not.

“Iyong pagtanggap ko ng trabaho, hindi nagma-matter kung cabinet post iyon o hindi. Full steam ahead. First day pa lang, nagtrabaho na ako,” Robredo said Tuesday.

“Papabayaan ko na lang sila kung hindi pa sila nagkakasundo kung ano talaga ang kaakibat ng assignment ko,” she added.

President Rodrigo Duterte made Robredo co-chair of the ICAD two weeks ago, with her appointment to end on June 30, 2022 “unless earlier revoked.”

“Ginagawa ko iyong lahat ng kaya ko, miyembro naman ako ng Cabinet o hindi,” Robredo added.

Drugs a transnational problem

The Vice President also expressed puzzlement as to why the Palace has been accusing her of talking to foreign sectors and officials who have already "prejudged" the drug war, saying that some of the illegal drug supply in the Philippines was sourced in other countries.

“Hindi ko naiintindihan bakit sila nababahala, eh iyong problema sa droga, transnational. Karamihan ng ilegal na droga, nanggagaling sa ibang bansa. Hindi natin kayang i-constrict iyong supply kung wala tayong pakikipagtulungan sa ibang bansa,” Robredo said.

“Kaya napakahalaga ang partnership natin with foreign governments,” she added.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo did not name names, but Robredo has touched base with officials of US Embassy in Manila and UN Office on Drugs and Crime to discuss the drug problem in the country and community-based rehabilitation of drug dependents.

In closing, Robredo clarified that the officials she consulted have not prejudged the drug war since these same sectors have been working with Philippine government even before her appointment as ICAD chair. — BM, GMA News