President Duterte said he is willing to tap Vice President Leni Robredo as the country’s drug czar until the end of their term in 2022.
Duterte made the statement after personalities from the political opposition said there was no way that Robredo can solve the drug problem in just six months like what the President originally offered her.
“Eh ibigay ko ‘yung lahat ng — the remaining term, the remaining days of my term. Kung gusto niya,” Duterte told reporters in Davao City Thursday night.
According to the President, he would take back Robredo to his Cabinet if she would accept his offer to lead all anti-illegal drugs initiatives.
“If I would take her in as the drug czar, I will have to first make her a Cabinet member. Then I will give her the marching orders and the specific functions. All in connection with drugs, kanya,” Duterte said.
Early this week, Duterte offered Robredo to be the drug czar after she called his drug war a failure and said that it needed tweaking. The Vice President, however, said that the President was not serious and added that the offer should be in writing.
In his media interview in Davao City Thursday, Duterte said that he did not need to put such an offer in writing.
“Hindi na kailangan. I will swear her — I will swear her as a Cabinet member. First, balik siya so that she will have the authority,” he said.
“Hindi na kailangan na mag-ano pa ako sa Congress. I will just make her the — a Cabinet member. Tapos, all drug cases and all things, matters in connection with drugs iyo na ‘yan hanggang katapusan ng term ko,” he added.
The President then reiterated that he offered Robredo the position because she might have the solution to the lingering drug problem.
“Eh siya ‘yung madaldal eh. Dito pati sa labas. O, baka may alam siya na mas mabuting (She’s the one always talking about it here and outside the country. Maybe she has a better plan)… If she knows a better method of dealing with the problem, then baka may ano talaga (maybe there’s a chance),” Duterte said.
“If you criticize, you must have the answer. If you question, you must have the answer,” he added.
Malacañang earlier said that Duterte’s offer to Robredo was a sincere gesture and that it was an opportunity for her to show the public that she was a capable leader.
Contrary to claims of Duterte’s critics, Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said they are sincerely hoping that Robredo accepts Duterte’s offer and that she succeeds in her endeavors as the country’s drug czar.
“The Office of the President wishes to be categorical — and contrary to the claim of critics and detractors of this administration, we want VP Leni to succeed, her success being ultimately a triumph of the Filipino people against the dreaded and destructive evil that is destroying the basic fabric of our society,” he said.
Robredo was a member of Duterte’s Cabinet in 2016, leading the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC). However, she resigned after being directed by the President to “desist from attending all Cabinet meetings.” (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
