By Charissa Luci-Atienza
Make your proposal very clear.
This was the challenge of House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano to Vice President Leni Robredo, even as he expressed belief that President Duterte is not passing the problem when he dared Vice President Leni Robredo to take over his war on drugs for six months.
Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano
(AP / Aaron Favila / MANILA BULLETIN)
The House Chief also dared Robredo to define her proposed health-based approach on how to address the problem of illegal drugs.
"Ako susuportahan ko ang challenge ng ating Pangulo at susuportahan ko si Vice President if she takes the reins for six months but ipakita muna nya at ipaliwanag anong programa nya kasi madaling magsabi," he told reporters.
(I will support the challenge of the President and I will support the Vice President if she takes the reins for six months, but she should first lay down and explain her program because it is easier said than done.)
He explained that the health-based approach was based on European ideology legalizing drugs.
"You wanted the chance, gusto mo magbago ang Pilipinas, gusto mo magbago ang drug war. Tell us now, kung ikaw ang 6 months, ano ang gagawin mo?," Cayetano said.
(You want Philippines to change, you want drug war to be changed. Tell us now, if you will take reins for six months, what will you do?)
President Duterte earlier said he would surrender his powers to enforce the law and give it to Robredo for six months.
He said Robredo could immediately start her work as the country's drug czar.
Cayetano said by posing such challenge, President Duterte is not giving up on his war on drugs and is not passing the problem to Robredo.
"I don't really believe it is passing the problem. I don't believe the President does not believe that still it is his responsibility," he stressed.
He said President Duterte made such challenge to the Vice President because of "his love for the country and the Filipino people."
"It is his desire to solve this problem, his love for the country," he said.
"He is completely exasperated by the fact that the drugs have penetrated every sector of our country," he added.
Cayetano also appealed to other government officials to "come up with clear, and simple and executable ideas to solve our country's problems."