MALACAÑANG on Thursday said President Duterte serious in offering to Vice President Leonor “Leni” Robredo the “golden opportunity” to become the administration’s anti-drug czar.
In a statement, Presidential spokesperson Salvador S. Robredo reiterated Duterte’s invitation for Robredo to assume leadership over all “offices, bureaus, agencies or government instrumentalities involved in the enforcement of the law on prohibited drugs” for six months.
“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,” Panelo said.
Last Monday, Duterte first floated the idea of Robredo becoming the administration’s anti-drug czar in response to her supposed fresh criticisms, as reported by a foreign wire service, of his own efforts against it, which resulted in thousands of deaths of drug suspects, but still failed to stop widespread drug trafficking.
Duterte said he is willing to give Robredo six months to prove she has a better alternative to his brutal approach to illegal drugs.
Robredo refused the offer and later clarified she is not pushing for the administration’s anti-illegal drug drive to be stopped but only “tweaked.”
Robredo’s supporters backed her refusal, saying the offer of Duterte is merely a “trap” to make her liable for the administration’s failed effort in eliminating illegal drugs.