Malacañang said it was still too early to tell if Vice President Leni Robredo was doing a good job as the drug czar, asking the public to just let her perform her job.
In an interview, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said it was still too early to assess Robredo’s performance as co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).
“Ang assessment ko sa inyo, at saka sa lahat, masyado kayong nagmamadali, kakaupo lang noong Ale eh,” he told CNN Philippines.
“Give her the chance, let her perform her job, saka na tayo mag-assess,” he added.
Panelo explained that any person who would take on a new job would naturally test the waters first like what Robredo did on her first week as the drug czar.
“You have to know the situation first. Kung kailangan mag-meeting muna lahat ng mga tao doon,” he said.
“Tapos hihingi ka ng mga advice sa ibang mga expert, saka ka ngayon gumawa ng sarili mong scheme, ganoon – tama iyon,” he added.
Panelo was referring to Robredo’s move to meet with members of the FBI, United States Drug Enforcement Agency, and the United Nations office on drugs and crimes.
On Friday, Robredo said that she has already submitted her first report as the drug czar to President Duterte, adding that she was planning to submit weekly recommendations to the Chief Executive to refine the anti-drug campaign.
However, the Vice President said that even with her recommendations, the final call would still be coming from
Duterte since her role was more on making policies.
“At the end of the day, iyong ating Pangulo naman iyong magko-call the shots, kasi siya naman iyong sa law enforcement,” she said in a media interview in Naga City.
“I’m aware of the limitations of my position. But for me, despite the limitation, I will do everything that I think I’m allowed to do. As long I’m given the chance to assess and recommend, I will do that,” Robredo stressed. (Argyll Cyrus Geducos and Raymund F. Antonio)
