Panelo: Next step for Robredo? Talk to Duterte to know power as drug czar

MANILA, Philippines—After accepting her new role in the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte, Vice President Leni Robredo should now talk to the President to discuss the “parameters” of her power as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD), Malacañang said Wednesday.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo issued the statement moments after Robredo accepted Duterte’s offer for her to lead his controversial war against illegal drugs.

“I think the next step is for her to go to the Palace and talk to the President so she would know exactly the parameters of her power as the drug czar,” Panelo said in an interview over CNN Philippines.

READ: BREAKING: Robredo accepts Duterte’s drug czar post appointment

Panelo added that Robredo is even welcome to join Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting in Malacañang.

Robredo’s acceptance of the post makes her a part of the Duterte Cabinet again, two years since she resigned as Housing Secretary following Malacañang’s move to bar her from attending Cabinet meetings.

Duterte’s offer to name Robredo as his drug czar came after the latter criticized his brutal war on drugs, which has killed thousands of drug suspects since 2016.

READ: Duterte to ‘surrender’ power to Robredo to enforce law for six months

Duterte created ICAD through Executive Order No. 15 and is composed of various member agencies with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief sitting as chairperson.

PDEA Director-General Aaron Aquino earlier said Robredo will “fail” if she is to lead the anti-drug campaign citing her lack of experience.

As co-chair, Robredo’s powers under EO 15 includes ensuring the “effective conduct of all anti-illegal drug operations and arrest of high-value drug personalities” and “street-level peddlers and users.”

The committee is also tasked with “cleansing the bureaucracy” of government personnel involved in illegal drugs./muf