MANILA, Philippines?Lawmakers on Tuesday criticized President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's self-appointment as anti-illegal drug czar as "ill-timed" and "overacting," even as others hailed it as a good move towards curbing the drug menace plaguing the country.

Muntinlupa Representative Rufino Biazon said the President's new role has put her "in a precarious situation" because she will be directly involved in the campaign.

"She should not be directly involved so that she can have an objective and free hand in dealing with any failure in the anti-drug campaign," Biazon said in a text message.

Stressing that Arroyo's role is to see to it there is accountability from those in charge, Biazon said that by assuming the role, she will remove the burden from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of Justice.

"It all falls on her shoulders, which I think is ill-advised," Biazon said.

Bayan Muna Representative Teodoro Casino said the President overacted in making herself anti-drug czar since there are already two anti-drug czars -- Dangerous Drugs Board chairman Vicente Sotto III and PDEA director Dionisio Santiago.

"What President Arroyo needs to do is to clean up the DOJ, starting with its secretary and to strengthen the PDEA. She should just do her job without resorting to fancy titles and gimmicks," Casino said.

After the alleged bribery mess broke out, Citizens Battle Against Corruption party list Representative Joel Villanueva wonders why the President wants to dip her hands onto it.

"What is the threat for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of this current issue and the forthcoming election and why suddenly this becomes the President?s priority purportedly to save the nation from the evils of illegal drugs?" Villanueva said.

But for Speaker Prospero Nograles, Arroyo is the best person to lead the fight against illegal drugs because of the powers and resources of her office.

"I guess nobody can do it better than her under the circumstances, with vast power and resources of the Office of the President," he said.

Parañaque Representative Roilo Golez said that with Arroyo at the helm, the DOJ and the PDEA will be forced to cooperate, the prosecutors would be closely watched and there would be a review of all pending drug cases.

Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga said the President now would be directly accountable for the success or failure of the anti-illegal drugs campaign.

Representative Antonio Alvarez meanwhile said Arroyo should prioritize resolving the squabble between PDEA and the DOJ.