Twenty minutes before it was scheduled to begin, Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday postponed the release of her report on the government’s drug war after a strong earthquake that struck Davao del Sur and nearby provinces.
Robredo, former co-chair of the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD), instead called for donations for earthquake victims.
“Parang napaka-mali sa timing na asikasuhin natin iyong report sa ICAD, na mayroon pa namang panahon para pag-usapan ito. Tingin namin mas mabuti na ang pagtuunan ng pansin ngayon ng lahat kung paano tayo makakatulong doon sa mga victims,” she said in a media briefing at the Quezon City Reception House.
“Panahon ito na magkaisa tayo,” Robredo stressed.
This was the second time Robredo decided not to make public the release of her findings and recommendations from her short stint at ICAD. She held the position for almost three weeks.
Robredo previously deferred her report to the nation due to the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
The Vice President said she would focus on the relief efforts of her office, citing the immediate needs of affected residents for tents, drinking water, and generators for electricity.
“Nagtawag na tayo sa mga (Angat Buhay) partners kung sino iyong puwedeng makapagpadala immediately,” she told reporters.
Robredo then called for prayers and unity among Filipinos for the earthquake victims in Mindanao.
“Nakikiisa tayo sa ating mga kababayan na naapektuhan ng lindol na ito. Nakikiusap din tayo sa ating mga kababayan na hindi apektado na magkaisa tayo, magpadala ng tulong, kasi ngayon nila tayo kailangan na kailangan – lalo na kasi magpa-Pasko,” she said.
In an interview after the deferment of her report, Robredo said her office formed a team who will come to the aid of affected communities reeling from the destruction.
“Most probably they will go there tomorrow,” Robredo said.
