Palace prods Robredo: Accept drug czar post

MANILA, Philippines — Accepting the offer to be President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug czar would prove Vice President Leni Robredo is not just good at criticizing, Malacañang said Wednesday.

“You know VP Leni this is a rare and very good opportunity for you to show everyone that you are not just good at criticizing,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo told reporters in Malacañang.

“Since you are criticizing that it is ineffective then the President is giving you a chance to show that it is indeed ineffective so this is your chance show us,” he added.

The Palace official showed to reporters the text message he purportedly sent to Robredo, asking the Vice President if she would accept the President’s offer to be his drug czar.

Panelo said Robredo did not respond.

LOOK: Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo shows his text message to Vice President Leni Robredo on President Duterte's offer to be his drug czar. Robredo earlier denied receiving a text message from Panelo. 📸 MPC @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/G5rg4GO696

— Darryl John Esguerra (@drrylesguerra) October 30, 2019

On Monday, Duterte said he would surrender his law enforcement power to Robredo, particularly to lead the administration’s war on drugs for six months.

READ: Duterte seriously offering drug czar post to Robredo – Malacañang

Robredo earlier said the government’s drug war, which has killed at least 5,000 poor Filipinos, was a failure. /kga