Robredo on addressing drug problem after brief ICAD stint: ‘Mas lalo akong ginaganahan’

Vice President Leni Robredo will continue to mine for data on drug dependents, drug war killings and push for effective community-based rehabilitation centers even if she has already been fired as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).

Robredo made the comments during her meeting with Mothers Against Drug Abuse group in her hometown of Naga City.

“Incomplete iyong data natin, pero kung anuman iyong pinresent ninyo ngayon na data, ang sigurado lang tayong numero, [surrenderers]. Kung pagbabasehan natin iyong data na sinubmit niyo, marami pa iyong walang intervention. So iyon iyong unang problema—paano ba ma-aassess iyong lahat na [surrenderers] at kapag na-assess na, paano ba sila bibigyan ng karampatang intervention?” Robredo said.

“Iyong may mga reported na may mga namatay, na-identify ba kung sino iyong pumatay? Nagkaroon ba ng kaso? Para makakahanap tayo ng hustisya para sa kanila. Kahit wala na ako sa posisyon, hindi naman nangangahulugan na wala na tayong magagawa. Mas lalo tayong ginaganahan, dahil nakita na natin kung ano iyong pagkukulang. Papalakasin natin iyong mga MADA, tutulong tayo sa community rehab—pero hindi puwedeng hindi tayo nakikipag-coordinate sa mga BADACs,” she added.

Robredo was referring to the Barangay Anti Drug Abuse Council.

“Bakit natin kailangang tumulong? Kasi ang problema sa drugs, problema ng lahat—lalo ng mga nanay, ano? Kaya hindi puwedeng sabihin natin na bahala na diyan iyong PNP, ‘di ba? Ang kailangan, sabihin natin, “May problema, kaya lahat kami tutulong,” Robredo pointed out.

Robredo then shared that she has touched base with the Department of Health which has expressed willingness to train groups involved in community-based rehabilitation centers for a more successful intervention, stressing that clearing barangays is not about compliance with requirements alone.

“An pagpalakas ng mga BADACs, iyon iyong pag-asa ng ating mga anak. Ayaw natin na kaya natin ginagawa kasi requirement. Pangit iyon. Ito, kaya natin ginagawa, kasi gusto natin hindi na malulong pa sa droga iyong mga anak natin,” Robredo said.

“Iyong pagsa-submit ng requirements sa barangay clearing, okay naman iyon. Pero ang tanong ko, kahit pa naka-submit tayo ng requirements, kung wala naman tayong maayos na programa, kinalaunan problema pa din iyon. Alam natin na iyong drug addiction, ito iyong sakit na pabalik-balik. So dapat ang programa natin nilalaliman natin,” she added.

At the same event, Robredo said community-based rehabilitation should also include drug prevention for the program to be sustainable.

“Kapag sinabing community rehab, dapat hinahanap natin ano ba iyong dahilan kung bakit in the first place nalulong? Ang pag-rehab, dapat kasama iyong family. Kasi kahit pa iyan nag-rehab nang nag-rehab, kung pareho iyong environment na babalikan, ganoon pa din,” Robredo said.

“Kahit pa iyan na-confine, kung pagbalik niya sa community, pagbalik niya sa pamilya walang pagbabago, talagang magre-relapse. Ang gusto natin, kapag gumaling, hindi na magkakasakit ulit. At tayo iyong susi noon. Ang susi iyong buong community,” she added.

Robredo was fired by President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, November 24, just 19 days after she accepted the ICAD post. The President has accused her of being not trustworthy and a talkative who would spill confidential information to the detriment of the country.

During her 19-day stint as ICAD co-chair, Robredo has met with officials of government agencies, organizations involved in community-based rehabilitation of drug dependents, as well as representatives of US Embassy in Manila and UN Office on Drugs and Crime, as well as paid a visit to drug-infested communities to discuss ways to address the drug menace. — RSJ, GMA News