MANILA, Philippines – After accepting her additional responsibility as drug czar, Vice President Leni Robredo’s next move is to know the scope of her authority and duties to buckle down and get busy.
Robredo’s spokesman, Atty. Barry Gutierrez said the Vice President will meet with officials of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) in the coming days.
“The next few days we’d be dealing with ‘yong mga details of her new designation, so importante rin na makuha niya ‘yong tamang impormasyon para malinaw kung ano ‘yong problema na kanyang hinaharap,” Gutierrez said in a press conference that followed Robredo’s acceptance of Duterte’s offer.
(The next few days we’d be dealing with the details of her new designation, so it is important to get the right information so that she’d clearly determine what problem she’ll be facing.)
“Which probably means linking up and coordinating with the other agencies under ICAD,” he added.
Gutierrez admitted that he himself is clueless about the specifics of Robredo’s new assignment, especially the powers that the President would give to the Vice President as his administration’s drug czar.
“Ayaw kong pangunahan kasi wala pa ‘yong mga detalyeng ‘yan. Tinanggap niya ‘yong hamon, all the details would be worked out in the next few days,” he noted.
(I don’t want to preempt because there’s yet any details on that. She accepted the challenge, all the details would be worked out in the next few days.)
Guitierrez further said in a separate interview with INQUIRER.net that Robredo would focus on the ICAD members but would definitely meet with Duterte if the President would call for a meeting.
READ: Panelo: Next step for Robredo? Talk to Duterte to know power as drug czar
Earlier Wednesday, Robredo announced that she’s accepting Duterte’s designation of her as co-chairperson of ICAD. Prior to this, Malacañang has assured Robredo that she is again welcome to attend Cabinet meetings if she takes on the President’s offer.
READ: Robredo accepts Duterte’s drug czar post-appointment
READ: Palace: Robredo can again join Cabinet meetings with new appointment
Iron out issues
According to Gutierrez, apart from the challenges that come with the new post, Robredo would also be faced with the challenge of ironing out issues between her and other administration officials especially since she is a leader of the political opposition Liberal Party.
“I can’t really speak to that, these are details that would be threshed out in the coming days, I imagine at some point kailangan nilang i-resolve ‘yan (they need to resolve that) between themselves,” he explained.
“But definitely, ang hindi aatrasan ni VP Leni is ‘yong kanyang mandato dito, which is to be able to take action in order to fix what she perceives to be the shortcomings in the drug war, principally na nga ‘yong patuloy na pagpatay ng mga tao kahit wala namang kasalanan, at ‘yong pananagot ng mga taong kailangang managot,” he stressed.
(But definitely, what VP Leni won’t back down from is her mandate, which is to be able to take action in order to fix what she perceives to be the shortcomings in the drug war, principally the continuous killing of innocent people, and seeking accountability for people who are at fault.)
Before the formal appointment of Robredo as ICAD co-chair, the committee was solely led by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron Aquino who had said Robredo “will fail” as drug czar.
READ: PDEA chief thinks Robredo ‘will fail’ as drug czar
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