MANILA, Philippines — Minority and Liberal Party (LP) members in the House on Wednesday lauded Vice President Leonor “Leni” Robredo’s acceptance of the anti-drug czar post offered to her.
READ: BREAKING: Robredo accepts Duterte’s drug czar post appointment
LP congressman and Quezon City 6th District Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte said their reservations about Robredo’s appointment were dismissed by her sincerity and determination.
“Kami man, may agam-agam (We had reservations). We know that there are those who might go against the direction she might set… Alam namin na maaaring para sa administrasyon, pulitika lang lahat ito (We know that for the administration, this is just politics),” Belmonte said during the minority bloc’s weekly press conference.
“But VP Leni does not play high politics with the lives of our people. We know that her sincerity overcame her own doubts, and it overcomes ours,” he added.
Belmonte also shared that Robredo’s decision came as no surprise to their political party since they knew “she will never shrink from any responsibility to do what she can to make our people’s lives better.”
The congressman also said this is an opportunity to finally end the root of illegal drugs as well as the killings under the Duterte administration’s war on illegal narcotics.
“If she is given the tools and is empowered by the administration, we can now altogether prove: The war on drugs can be part of the war against poverty — and not a war against poor people,” Belmonte added.
Minority Leader and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. also welcomed Robredo’s decision but said the administration should accord her full authority to direct the government’s fight against illegal drugs.
Marikina City 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo, another LP member, for her part said the Vice President should be given the leeway to choose the people who would work with her.
“Sana pwede nyang piliin ang kanyang mga tauhan halimbawa, and kung pwede sana kung pwede nya mapili ang mga heads ng importanteng ahensya (I hope she can choose her teammates, and if she can choose the heads of key agencies), why not?” Quimbo said. /je