The President may have fired her as his anti-drug czar but Vice President Leni Robredo is not leaving quietly.
Robredo revealed that she has relevant information she will divulge to the public in due time.
“Sa mga susunod na araw, magbibigay ako ng ulat sa bayan. Sasabihin ko ang aking natuklasan at ang aking mga rekomendasyon,” Robredo said.
Robredo said she still has questions and added that the administration seems to be scared of what she has done and what she has learned as co-chairperson of the Interagency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs. (ICAD)
“Hindi ba talaga sila seryoso sa laban? O may interes ba tayong nabangga? Ano ba ang kinatatakutan ninyong malaman ng taumbayan…Kung sa tingin nila matatapos ito dito, hindi nila ako kilala. Nagsisimula pa lamang ako,” Robredo said.
From South Korea where President Rodrigo Duterte was attending a regional summit, Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Robredo was terminated in response to the suggestion of opposition Sen. Francis Pangilinan.
Her termination was also in response to her statement for the President to just tell her if he wants her out.
The meetings with officials of the United Nations and the United States also did not sit well with the President.
“The President is calling the dare, if she is bluffing, the President is calling the bluff,” Panelo said.
The Palace also criticized the Vice President for not having concrete solutions though Panelo admitted that the President has yet to read the recommendations submitted by Robredo.
“Pag dumating ang sulat hindi naman kaagad nababasa. Sa dami syempre. Kumbaga nakapila ka dyan,” Panelo said
Robredo was barely three weeks into the job as ICAD co-chair which started as a dare, from President Duterte.
“Tinatanong nila ako kung handa ba ako para sa trabahong ito. Ang tanong ko: handa ba kayo para sa akin?” Robredo said.
She stressed that she wanted to go after the big fish and seek an end to extrajudicial killings.
“Kung ito ang pagkakataon para matigil ang patayan ng mga inosente at mapanagot ang mga kailangang managot, papasanin ko ito,” Robredo said.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said it respects the decision of the President and it will continue to carry out its mandate.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) also said it respects the President’s decision and assured the public that the campaign against high value targets will continue while respecting the rule of law and human rights.
“Kinonsidera natin ang kanyang pahayag at tumugma ito sa direksyon ng PNP na gawing mas transparent ang ating kampanya laban sa ilegal na droga,” PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said.
Justice Sec. Menardo Guevarra, a member of the ICAD, expressed disappointment over the turn of events.
He said the appointment of the Vice President as ICAD co-chair is based on trust and once trust is lost, the position is lost.
Though not surprised, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said the termination of the Vice President was unfortunate.
For Sen. Pangilinan, this incident only proved the administration cannot stand by its word and the failed war on drugs became a war against the Vice President. (Jasper Camilo)