Robredo won’t give up ICAD post unless Duterte says so–OVP spokesperson

Office of the Vice President spokesperson Atty. Barry Gutierrez. INQUIRER.net file photo / Noy Morcoso

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Leni Robredo would not resign from being the co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) unless President Rodrigo Duterte says so, the spokesperson of the Office of the Vice President said on Thursday.

Lawyer Barry Gutierrez said that Robredo would stay, even there are possible attempts to hinder her from effectively discharging her duties.

“The Vice President will stay so long as she still has a job to do. Sinabi naman niya kahapon eh: ‘Kung gusto nila akong tanggalin, eh ‘di diretsuhin na nila, ‘di ba?’ But she will not resign kung ang gagawin lang ay papahirapan siya o haharangan siya,” Gutierrez said on the sidelines of an event in Makati City.

(She said it yesterday, ‘if they want to fire me, just say it directly’ right?  But she will not resign if only out of difficulties accompanying her job.)

He also reminded that it was Duterte who chose to appoint Robredo to that post, and that the primary consideration for her in accepting the post was the chance to save innocent lives from dying in the government’s bloody anti-drug campaign.

“[…] The Vice President’s priorities are clear. She expected this to be difficult. She expected that there will be some level of lack of cooperation na mangyayari.  And she’s prepared to still do her job despite that,” Gutierrez added.

On Tuesday night, Duterte said that he does not trust Robredo, especially after the Vice President talked with different international organizations after being designated as ICAD co-chair.  The President said this ultimately cost Robredo a cabinet post — although he later clarified that he was not firing her.

Some were confused about Duterte’s move to appoint and stick with Robredo at the helm of the drug operations amid the loss of trust.  Robredo meanwhile said that she would continue working to solve the country’s drug problem.

However, other people including Senator Panfilo Lacson — whom Robredo consulted — said it may be a way for the President to say that she should resign.

Edited by JPV