Why appoint me as drug czar if they don’t trust me? – Robredo

This file photo shows Vice President Leni Robredo speaking during her first meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) on November 08, 2019, at the Office of the Vice President in Quezon City. INQUIRER.net/Noy Morcoso

MANILA, Philippines — If they don’t trust me, then why did they appoint me?

Such was the question raised by Vice President Leni Robredo after presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte has “reservations” about her getting classified information regarding the administration’s war on drugs. Panelo, however, also quickly clarified that Duterte still trusts Robredo.

“Sa akin, kung wala silang tiwala, bakit nila ako dinesignate? Kasi dinesignate nila ako as co-chair ng ICAD [at] isa sa mga kailangan kong gawin [ay] masigurado na ‘yung nasa listahan na mga high-value targets [ay] mahuli,” Robredo told reporters on Tueday.

(For me, if they do not trust me, then why did they designate me? Because they designated me as co-chair of ICAD [and] one of my tasks is to ensure that those in the list of high-value targets will be apprehended.)

On October 31, Duterte appointed Robredo as co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD). On November 6, Robredo accepted her appointment. Consequently, the Vice President requested a copy of the list of high-value drug targets (HVTs) in the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.

“Kung ipagkakait nila ‘yung impormasyon, nasa kanila ‘yun. Basta ako nung tinanggap ko ito, buong puso. ‘Yung lahat ng makakaya ko, ibibigay ko,” Robredo said.

(If they would deprive me of information, it’s up to them. For me, when I accepted this job, it’s with my whole heart. Everything I can do, I will give.)

“From the very start, nagke-claim sila ng sincerity sa pag-designate sakin. ‘Yung sincerity, hindi ‘yun pinapakita sa salita, pinapakita ‘yun sa gawa,” she added.

(From the very start, they have been claiming sincerity in designating me. But sincerity is not shown through words, it is shown through action.)

Robredo then said that while she understands the decision still lies with the government, she will try “as much as I can” to be able to obtain data that she needs to accomplish her mandate.

“Hindi ako magsasayang ng oras para makipag-paligsahan. Basta ‘yung magagawa ko ngayon, gagawin ko. Hindi ko na problema kung may mga ayaw silang ibigay. Basta ako, we’ll work with whatever is given to me,” Robredo said.

(I won’t waste my time competing. I will just do whatever I can right now. It is not my problem if there are things they refuse to give me. As for me, we’ll work with whatever is given to me.)

Earlier, Panelo said Duterte’s “reservations” on Robredo “has nothing to do with trust.”

He even said: “[We’re] still waiting for her program, how will she perform her job.”

Edited by KGA