Robredo on DILG’s reservations for drug war data: I don’t take it personally

Vice President Leni Robredo speaks during her first meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) on Friday, November 08, 2019, at the Office of the Vice President in Quezon City. Robredo, as newly-appointed co-chair of ICAD, presided over the meeting. INQUIRER.net file photo / Noy Morcoso

MANILA, Philippines — “I understand the reservations [on drug war data]. I don’t take them personally.”

This was Vice President Leni Robredo’s response on Saturday after Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Ricojudge Echiverri said he was worried about Robredo’s appointment as anti-drug czar.

Echiverri said he also had reservations on sharing information about high-value targets to Robredo, who was a co-chair of Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).

Robredo said she expects that there will be resentment and mistrust on her designation as anti-illegal drug czar.

“Hindi naman siguro iyon maaalis because of the prevailing circumstances. Pero iyong sa akin, hindi sa akin personal. Sa akin, whatever I can do to make a difference, I will do,”  Robredo told reporters when she visited Bula, Camarines Sur.

Asked if these reservations will limit Robredo’s operations, the Vice President said she will work on the limited data she will receive from authorities.

“Ako, it will limit, pero ako, very realistic ako when I decided to accept the designation. Naiintindihan ko na maraming magiging limitations. And ako, sanay akong mag-adjust sa limitations,” she said.

(It will limit my operations but I am very realistic when I decided to accept the designation. I understand that it has many limitations and I am used to adjusting on limitations.)

Aside from Echiverri, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Aaron Aquino also hesitated in providing information on the list of high-value drug targets.

Edited by JPV