MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said it “believes in the wisdom” of President Rodrigo Duterte in firing Vice President Leni Robredo as co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).
“PDEA respects and believes in the wisdom of the President. Whatever happens, PDEA will continue to carry out its mandate to rid of the country of illegal drugs with utmost sincerity and integrity,” PDEA chief Aaron Aquino, also the ICAD chairperson, said in a statement Sunday.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Aaron Aquino and Vice President Leni Robredo preside over the Interagency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs meeting in this file photo. INQUIRER file photo / LYN RILLON
The Philippine National Police (PNP), meanwhile, said it also respects the decision of Duterte to remove Robredo from her post.
“The PNP respects the decision of the President terminating the services of Vice President Leni Robredo as ICAD co-chair,” PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in a separate statement.
Banac assured that the campaign against high-value drug targets “will remain relentless following the rule of law and with utmost respect for human rights.”
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte’s decision, which came less than a month after appointing Robredo to ICAD, was fueled by her taunt to just tell her if he wants her out from the committee.
“In effect that was what she was saying, ‘Fire me if you don’t want me.’ In effect, that’s what she was saying… You don’t say that to your boss who is the President of the Philippines,” he earlier said.
Panelo added that Duterte also cited some “missteps” of Robredo, including her supposed failure to present a program of action as co-chairperson of the ICAD.