PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac INQUIRER.net file photo / Cathrine Gonzales
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday thanked Vice President Leni Robredo in her leadership as co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD), saying it learned “ideas” from her on how to improve the drug war during her short-lived stint in the committee.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said the suggestions of Robredo to ensure transparency in anti-drug operations were in consonance with the goal of the PNP.
“Sa tatlong linggo na inilagi ni Vice President Robredo as co-chair ng ICAD, nagpapasalamat tayo sa kanyang na-i-contribute na ideas, at wala naman tayong panghihinayang dahil lahat naman tayong lingkod ng bayan ay maaaring mawala sa pwesto kailanman,” he said.
(We are thankful to Vice President Robredo for the ideas she contributed as co-chair of the ICAD, and we don’t have any regrets since all of us are public servants who may be removed from our posts anytime.)
Banac said the PNP considered all the recommendations shared by Robredo to improve the drug war, including the use of body cameras to ensure transparency in police anti-drug operations. The proposal to use body cameras in drug raids and buy-busts first floated in 2017, but the equipment has yet to be procured by the PNP even after two years.
Even without Robredo onboard the committee, Banac said the PNP has already laid out programs to deal with the drug menace, like the “Oplan Tokhang” and the campaign against high-value targets.
He said member-agencies of ICAD also learned several inputs from Robredo, including ways to improve the government-funded rehabilitation program for drug users.
“Ito ‘yung mga nais natin ipagpatuloy. Kahit na wala na si Vice President Leni Robredo ay marami din tayong mga nakuha sa kanya na idea kung paano pa mas makakabuti ang kampanya natin, katulad ng adbokasiya niya at itong drug rehab ng mga users,” he added.
(These are the things that what we want to continue. Even if Vice President Leni Robredo is not in the committee anymore, we learned a lot of ideas from her on how to improve our campaign, like her advocacy and the rehabilitation for drug users.)
Banac further said the PNP had not received a report that Robredo might have violated certain rules or have divulged state secrets to international bodies when she led the committee.
Robredo being fired from her post leaves Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Aaron Aquino as once again the sole chairperson of ICAD, which has 20 member-agencies including the PNP.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo announced on Sunday that President Rodrigo Duterte had fired Robredo as committee co-chair, saying that the President’s decision was fueled by Robredo’s taunt to just tell her plainly if he wants her out from the panel.