MANILA, Philippines —A staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, Nov. 5, listed the perils of Vice President Leni Robredo accepting appointment as co-chair of a new anti-drug body being formed by Malacanang, saying she shouldn’t accept it unless she had absolute authority to run the campaign against drugs.
Antonio Trillanes IV, former senator, said he would initially discourage Robredo from accepting the position, which would carry a Cabinet rank, but “if the offer is really absolute authority by all means she should accept.”
“The first offer that would make her in charge of everything is something that I may recommend so that the vice president can really show that her approach is more effective and more humane,” said Trillanes, who was at the Senate on a study tour for his students.
President Rodrigo Duterte had initially said he would make Robredo the anti-drug czar after she criticized the administration’s bloody war on drugs.
According to Trillanes, Duterte’s latest offer to Robredo was just “for display.”
READ: Duterte appoints Robredo co-chair of gov’t committee vs illegal drugs
“In this latest offer, she cannot do anything, because as chairperson, she cannot give directives , because if those directives are in conflict with those of the other side (administration), her directive will not push through,” said Trillanes in Filipino.
The former senator said that should Robredo accept the post as co-chair of the Interagency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD), she may be dragged into the consequences of hundreds of killings associated with the war on drugs.
“For me, this would not turn out to be effective for her. At worst she may be dragged into the policy of killing today so it won’t help,” he said.
Asked if he would talk to Robredo before she decides, Trillanes said he still had no way of meeting with the Vice President.
“But she has a set of advisers that I believe would provide her insights and help her with her decision,” he said. /tsb