Malacañang has advised Vice President Leni Robredo to engage with Filipinos more to get in touch with reality instead of echoing lies about President Duterte’s drug war.
Robredo had earlier said that it was time for the Duterte administration to put a stop to the drug war as it paints the country in a bad light before the international community.
In a statement Thursday night, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said they are not at all surprised by Robredo’s recent statement when she “demonized” Duterte and his drug war and referred to the campaign as a failure.
“With all due respect to the office she holds, the VP’s latest remarks are unquestionably bereft of factual basis and devoid of recognition of the successes that the war on illegal drugs has reaped,” he said.
“She may not realize it but she is echoing the lies and black propaganda of some of her colleagues in the political opposition, which to say the least is unfortunate, especially since she was part of the Cabinet when the government’s program against the drug menace was launched,” he added.
Panelo explained that the drug cartel not being totally destroyed does not mean that the campaign has failed.
“It only means that the extent and magnitude of the drug problem, which is the result of neglect and failure by past administrations to arrest or curb it, is monstrously enormous, hence, the administration has not wavered in the vigorous battle it has waged against it,” he said.
Panelo reiterated the numbers that they have been boasting regarding the drug war.
“More than one million drug personalities have voluntarily surrendered since the anti-narcotics campaign of the President started. Close to half a million underwent recovery, rehabilitation, and wellness programs. More than 42,000 barangays have been cleared of drugs and more than P35 billion in drugs, chemicals, and laboratory equipment have been seized and dismantled. More than 100 police scalawags, and less than 5,000 drug lords and pushers involved in illegal drugs, who have resisted arrest in buy-bust operations, have been killed making the people safe from them,” Panelo said.
“It is a continuing wonderment why VP Leni has ignored the fact that the majority of our people have recognized and have given their thumbs-up to the policy of the Chief Executive on this issue, with more than eight out of 10 Filipinos, or 82 percent, expressing satisfaction with his anti-illegal drug campaign,” he added.
Panelo advised Robredo to hear what the public has to say about the drug war instead of just listening to the critics of the President. (Argyll Geducos)
