President Duterte has formally designated Vice President Leni Robredo as new co-chairperson of a government committee spearheading the campaign against illegal drugs until the end of his term.
A memorandum on the designation of Robredo to join the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) has been signed by the President last October 31.
The designation letter has been transmitted to the Office of the Vice President by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea. A copy of the document has been released by the Palace to the media Tuesday.
“Pursuant to the provisions of existing laws, rules and regulations, you are hereby designated as the co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs to lead the Government’s efforts against illegal drugs until 30 June 2022, unless sooner revoked,” the President’s memorandum read.
The President also directed the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Philippine National Police, Dangerous Drugs Board and all other law enforcement agencies “to extend full assistance and cooperation to the Vice President to ensure the success of the Government’s efforts in the war against illegal drugs.”
The inter-agency committee on anti-illegal drugs, created by Duterte via Executive Order No. 15 in 2017, is mandated to ensure the integrated and synchronized implementation of government’s anti-drugs campaign.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said Robredo, as ICAD co-chair, would have a “pro-active role” in the government’s war against illegal drugs.
“She will have a hand in crafting the policies and programs of the government and at the same time ensure the proper implementation of anti-illegal drug operations and advocacy initiatives,” Medialdea said.
Last October 28, President Duterte offered to appoint Robredo as the country’s drug czar, promising to give her the power of law enforcement in the next six months. He made the offer after lashing out at Robredo for criticizing his supposed failed war on drugs.
Robredo however appeared not keen on accepting the President’s job offer. She wondered why the President was passing the buck if his anti-drug campaign was supposedly successful.
The Palace later insisted that Robredo should consider a serious and rare opportunity to show her mettle in fighting the narcotics trade. Duterte also announced that Robredo’s job will have a Cabinet rank.
Following the issuance of Robredo’s designation letter, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said they suppose the President’s detractors and critics will finally see the President’s sincerity in making the offer to Vice President.
He said Robredo may attend the upcoming Cabinet meeting if she accepts the job.
Panelo argued that Duterte’s ultimate motivation in offer the post to Robredo was “the welfare of the Filipino people, with the hope that the government be successful in combating the atrocity caused by the use and trade of illegal narcotics, regardless of who greatly contributed to such success.”
He noted that the President has yielded the demands made by the political opposition concerning the drug czar post offered to Robredo.
“First, these people have demanded that VP Leni be given the post with drug enforcement agencies and offices, such as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Philippine National Police and the Dangerous Drugs Board, under her authority, and the President has directed these instrumentalities to render full assistance and cooperation to her through this official document,” he said.
“Second, they have demanded that she be authorized to become the drug czar until the end of PRRD’s term, and the same paper designates her with the highest position possible to battle the proliferation of dangerous drugs until June 30, 2022,” he added.
On the opposition’s demand that such power be granted through an official correspondence Panelo said the President has also acceded to such demand.
The ICAD is currently chaired by PDEA and has several members including the DDB, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Justice, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Anti-Money Laundering Council.
Among the functions of ICAD are to ensure the effective anti-illegal drug operations, spearhead the implementation of National Anti-Drug Plan of Action, ensure comprehensive barangay drug-clearing program and advocacy campaign initiatives, as well as clean the bureau of erring personnel involved in narcotics trade. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)
