Vice President Leni Robredo speaks during the 21st Police Community Relations Month at the Philippine National Police headquarters, Quezon City, on Aug. 22. NINO JESUS ORBETA/INQUIRER
Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo believes that the six months time frame given by President Rodrigo Duterte to rid the country of drugs and criminality is not enough now that some government agencies are facing challenges on drug rehabilitation programs for nearly 700,000 surrenderees.
“Ang tingin ko ang six months would not be enough,” Robredo told reporters on Friday at an ambush interview in Naga City, where she attended the feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
“Noong nakaraang ilang araw, nag-request ako sa (Department of Interior and Local Government) ng briefing kung ano ang ginagawa ng ating gobyerno pagdating sa rehabilitation kasi mayroon tayo ngayon na 700,000 surrenderers at wala pang national na existing na template kung ano ang gagawin sa kanila,” Robredo said.
Last Tuesday, Interior Secretary Mike Sueno, Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco, heads of different government agencies and Catholic Church representatives briefed the Vice President on their efforts on the rehabilitation of drug users and pushers turning themselves in to the police.
READ: Robredo meets with DILG, PNP, PDEA to discuss drug war
Robredo reiterated that the police should not treat the increasing number of surrenderees as an accomplishment, but only “a means to achieve the accomplishment.”
“So ako naman naiintindihan ko na hindi ito kaya ng Pangulo lamang, kailangang pagtulungan nating lahat,” she said.
READ: Robredo on antidrug campaign: Surrendering is just step one
During the meeting, Robredo offered the help and resources of the Office of the Vice President in the community rehabilitation programs for the surrenderees.
Robredo said the DILG, DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Dangerous Drugs Board and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority were working together to address the rehabilitation problem.