Sotto eyes DDB, PDEA, DILG chief post if elected VP in Eleksyon 2022

Vice presidential aspirant and Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday said he would like to head the Dangerous Drugs Board, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) should he win in Eleksyon 2022.

“Sabi ko nga before, ako puwedeng wala e. Alam ko ang gagawin e. As long as you have the Office of the Vice President, the clout of the Office of the Vice President, you can help especially in my advocacy on illegal drugs,” he said in a radio interview.

(Like what I have said before, I could work even without a Cabinet post. I know what to do. As long as you have the Office of the Vice President and the clout of the Office of the Vice President, you can help especially in my advocacy on illegal drugs.)

“Pero ‘pag tinanong ako ano ang gusto ko ‘pag ako ay nanalo, ang sasabihin ko Dangerous Drug Board, PDEA, at tsaka DILG. I will have complete control of enforcement and rehabilitation programs,” he added.

(But if you will ask me, I would like to lead the DDB, PDEA, and the DILG. I will have complete control of enforcement and rehabilitation programs.)

Sotto has been promising a holistic approach in solving the problem of illegal drugs in the country.

A former DDB chairman, Sotto said the anti-drug campaign of their administration, should he win as vice president along with his running-mate Senator Panfilo Lacson, will not focus on law enforcement alone but also in the prevention and rehabilitation.

The Lacson-Sotto tandem earlier vowed a “no tokhang” policy in the government.

Celebrity

Meanwhile, Sotto said being a celebrity would not automatically give an advantage to one’s election campaign.

Citing records from the Commission on Elections, Sotto said about seven of 10 celebrities running for elective posts do not win their respective races.

“It is not really completely an advantage. There’s a disadvantage depending on the record of the personality,” Sotto, a known celebrity, said. — Hana Bordey/RSJ, GMA News