Vice President Leni Robredo (Photo by Jam Sta. Rosa / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — “Ano bang kinatatakutan ninyo? Ano ba ang kinatatakutan ninyong malaman ko?”
[What are you afraid of? What are you afraid that I might discover?]
This was the question posed by Vice President Leni Robredo a day after President Rodrigo Duterte sacked from her post as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).
“Ano ba ang kinatatakutan ninyong malaman ng taumbayan?,” she also said in a press conference in Camarines Sur on Monday.
[What are you afraid that the people might find out?]
“Mr. President, hindi ko hiningi ang posisyong ito. Pero sineryoso ko and trabahong ipinasa ninyo. Ang hiling ng taumabayan isang gobyernong tunay na kampeon laban sa iligal na droga,” she added.
[Mr. President, I did not ask for this position. But I took the job you passed on to me seriously. What the people wished for is a government that truly champions the fight against illegal drugs.]
She further said she would soon report to the public what she has discovered during her 18-day stint as co-chair of the government’s anti-drug body.
“Sa mga susunod na araw, magbibigay ako ng ulat sa bayan. Sasabihin ko ang aking natuklasan at ang aking mga rekomendasyon. Makakaasa kayo: kahit tinanggalan ako ng posisyon, hinding-hindi nila kayang tanggalin ang aking determinsyon,” the Vice President said.
[In the coming days, I will report to the public. I will reveal what I discovered and my recommendations. I can assure you: even if I was stripped of the position, my determination will never waver.]
Robredo also reminded the Duterte administration that she is not the enemy in the campaign against illegal drugs.
“Alalahanin natin na ang droga at mga drug lord ang kalaban—hindi ako, at lalong hindi ang taumbayan,” she said.
[Let’s remember that illegal drugs and drug lords are the enemy—not me, and most especially not the Filipino people.]
“Kung pareho naman ang ating layunin, bakit hindi na lang tayo magtulungan? Hindi ba talaga sila seryoso sa laban? O may interes ba tayong nabangga?” she further said.
[If we have the same objective, why can’t we just help each other? Are they really serious in this fight? Or have we tromped on somebody’s interest?]
On Oct. 31, Duterte appointed Robredo as co-chair of ICAD. This appointment came after he unleashed criticisms against Robredo for again commenting against his brutal war on drugs. Robredo accepted the appointment on Nov. 6.