PNP bares what drug-related data will be disclosed to Robredo on ‘need-to-know’ basis

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said that all drug-related data may be accessed by Vice President Leni Robredo through the RealNumbersPH—the official report on the administration's campaign against illegal drugs.

According to PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac, information that will fall under the "need-to-know" basis mentioned by President Rodrigo Duterte "refers to the list of high-value targets, anti-drug ops details, and other information classified as National Security matters."

"Classified and sensitive details may be discussed with, not given," Banac added in a text message to GMA News Online.

On Tuesday, Duterte expressed that he cannot trust Robredo whom he recently appointed as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD), and that she would only be given information "on a need-to-know basis."

Asked whether Duterte gave specific instructions to to the police regarding data requests from Robredo, Banac said: "Wala naman ibinigay na utos si Pangulo sa PNP."

The Palace had earlier balked at the idea of giving Vice President Leni Robredo access to the list of high-value targets in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, Banac underscored that the ICAD uses the data of the RealNumbersPH as its official source.

"All ICAD members submit their data to RealNumbersPH under the PCOO (Presidential Communications Operations Office). This is to vet, synchronize and harmonize various data from all the members. That way, there will only be one official numbers of the government," Banac said.

All other data requests that are not included in the official report shall undergo vetting by the ICAD members.

"ICAD as the body makes the call," Banac said.

He said that the protocol goes the same for Robredo's ICAD co-chair, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director-General Aaron Aquino.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), on the other hand, refused to define the "need-to-know" basis that Duterte mentioned.

"Since this is already a presidential statement, I would rather that the clarification come from the President himself or from [Spokesperson Salvador] Panelo who are in the best position to explain this matter," DILG spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in a separate text message to GMA News Online. — RSJ, GMA News