Palace: Robredo now drug war ‘boss’

MANILA, Philippine — Vice President Leni Robredo is now the drug war “boss” after she accepted the position to be President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug czar, Malacañang said Wednesday.

But Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo could not say the extent of Robredo’s power.

In a press briefing in Malacañang, Panelo initially said Robredo would have a free hand in leading the government’s controversial war on drugs.

“That’s why VP Leni was made a drug czar. She will be on top of the situation,” he said.

Asked if Robredo would have the power to stop the drug war if she finds it necessary, Panelo said, “It goes without saying [that] if she is the boss, then she can do that.”

But when pressed to give details about the extent of power of Robredo as drug czar, Panelo said she and Duterte need to talk first.

“All of that will be discussed with the President. They will have outline and guidelines,” he said.

So does Robredo has the power to replace police and anti-drug officials she deemed unfit to be part of the government’s anti-narcotics operations?

Panelo seemed to backtrack.

“I told you repeatedly, the Vice President has to know the scope and extent of her authority that is why she needs to talk with the President. Until such time we cannot, speculate. We cannot insist that she has this authority, that she has none,” he said.

Despite the vagueness of Robredo’s powers, Panelo assured the opposition stalwart that she has the full support of the Cabinet.

“As I earlier said, we will give all the support. Being a member of the Cabinet, it behooves upon all of us to help each other because her success is the success of all the Cabinet, as well as this administration, and ultimately, the Filipino people,” she said.

In her acceptance speech as drug czar, Robredo asked government officials if they are ready for her.

Panelo responded, “We have long been ready.”

“You offer, you give, that means the appointing power is of the belief that the person being appointed is capable of doing the job,” he said.  /muf