Leni Robredo to get House invite to reveal plans vs drugs

MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on dangerous drugs will invite Vice President Leni Robredo to brief the panel about her plans and strategies on the country’s war against illegal drugs as the newly-appointed co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).

Panel chairman Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Tuesday said that Robredo’s plans and programs could need legislation from the Congress.

He said that Leni Robredo has yet to announced her new plans and strategies to improve the campaign against illegal drugs.

Inputs from Robredo

“The moment she makes these announcements, we will invite the Vice President to inform us in the committee and ilatag itong mga programang ito (and lay out her programs),” Barbers told reporters in an interview.

“Baka mayroong kinakailangan na mga legislations na gawin doon sa proposal (Her proposals might need legislation),” he added.

However, the invitation is also still dependent on whether Leni Robredo’s plans will be new or a rehash from the government’s ongoing fight against drugs.

“Kung wala naman tayong maririnig na bago at ipagpapatuloy lamang kung ano ‘yung strategy na ginagawa na sa ngayon, siguro we will not waste time anymore na pag aksayahin ‘yung oras ng ating Bise Presidente at ‘yung mga miyembro ng ICAD at oras din ng mga miyembro ng Kongreso,” Barbers said.

(If Leni Robredo’s programs will not be new and are the same with the current strategies, we won’t waste her time anymore as well as the ICAD’s time and House members.)

No grilling

The Surigao del Norte lawmaker assured that Leni Robredo will not be subjected to “grilling” by members of the House of Representatives.

“Hindi mangyayari ‘yun, I will make sure that it’s not going to happen. We will just invite her to inform us and to shed light doon sa anumang panukala, anumang proposal o strategy na gagawin niya to improve this drug war,” he said.

(That will not happen, I will make sure that that will not happen. We will just invite her to inform us and to shed light on her programs or strategies that would improve the war on drugs.)

Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Robredo to co-head the government’s committee against illegal drug, a position which the Vice President has accepted.

READ: Robredo as drug czar: Are you ready for me?

READ: BREAKING: Robredo accepts drug czar post offer

READ: BREAKING: Duterte appoints Robredo co-chair of gov’t committee vs illegal drugs

Since then, Leni Robredo has been floating several ideas to address the country’s drug war, including scrapping the “Oplan Tokhang,” as well as opening the campaign against illegal drugs to a United Nations’ probe.

READ: Robredo calls for scrapping of ‘Oplan Tokhang’

READ: Robredo to meet with UN execs to research on illegal drug issues