Vice President Leni Robredo will not receive any additional compensation for her work as the country’s new anti-drug czar, a Palace official said recently.
“Kung ano iyong suweldo niya, iyon na ‘yun,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a radio interview.
Panelo, however, reminded the Vice President about the accountability of public officials as she begins her work as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs.
He said President Duterte would not interfere with the work of Robredo but she will be held accountable for her action.
“Alam mo si Presidente, ever since hindi nakikialam iyan sa kanyang mga departamento, palaging bahala kayong dumiskarte, but you are accountable to me – iyan ang ever since ganyan ang policy,” he added.
Robredo recently accepted the post as new ICAD co-chairperson offered by Duterte following her criticisms on his bloody war on drugs.
The committee, composed of several government agencies, is assigned to ensure the integrated and synchronized implementation of the government’s anti-drug campaign.
According to Panelo, Robredo will now have a chance to help in the anti-drug campaign, not just criticize the government efforts.
“Sabi niya failure, ineffective. Sabi niya let’s try other tacks. So, alam mo, pag sinabi mong let’s try other tacks, maybe you have a lot of other tacks in mind, kaya siya binigyan ng pagkakataon ni Presidente,” he said.
He said while some critics want Robredo to fail, the administration will rally behind her to ensure the success of the anti-drug campaign.
“She’s better off, now when she accepted, she becomes her own person. She cannot be relying on these colleagues of hers. She’s much smarter than them by accepting that position,” he said. (Genalyn Kabiling)
