By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
President Duterte renewed his invitation to Vice President Leni Robredo to take on his offer to be the government's drug czar, adding that the position is a Cabinet secretary rank to ensure her effectiveness in ending the country's drug problem.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (right) and Vice President Leni Robredo (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement after opposition personalities and other critics of the administration doubted Duterte's sincerity when he offered Robredo the position in a speech in Malacañang early this week.
In a statement, Panelo said it heard the various commentaries of the political opposition about Duterte's offer to Robredo to head the government's campaign against illegal drugs for six months.
"Critics and detractors of this Administration describe the President's gesture as a trap, arguing that it is impossible for VP Leni to solve the social problem with a limited period of six months and without the support of anti-drug bureaus and agencies," he said Friday evening.
To show Duterte's sincerity, Panelo said the President renewed his offer to Robredo and even said that her position will be that of a Cabinet rank to allow her to function effectively as a drug czar.
"To dispel all doubts on the sincerity of the Chief Executive’s offer, as well as to put a halt to the discordant pessimism of the opposition, the President renews his offer to the Vice President to become the anti-illegal drugs czar, with all offices, bureaus, agencies or government instrumentalities involved in the enforcement of the law on prohibited drugs placed under her command and supervision with a cabinet secretary portfolio, to ensure her effectiveness in combating the drug menace," he said.
Panelo also belied the claim of Duterte's critics that the President wanted to see Robredo fail, saying they want Robredo to succeed in her plans to solve the country's drug problem.
"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," he said.
Duterte's offer to Robredo came after the latter said that the infamous drug war was a failure and the campaign needed some tweaking. Robredo, however, did not bite and even said that the President's offer was an admission that his drug war was indeed a failure.
Last week, the Palace said Robredo was echoing the lies and black propaganda of some of her colleagues in the political opposition. Panelo said Robredo's remarks about the drug war was unfortunate since she was part of the Cabinet when the government’s program against the drug menace was launched.
Duterte appointed Robredo as chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) at the start of his term in 2016. However, Robredo resigned from the position in December 2016, citing "major differences" with the President. She also revealed that she was directed to "desist from attending all Cabinet meetings."
"Your directive to 'desist from attending all Cabinet meetings' has effectively made it impossible for me to do my job. Remaining in your Cabinet has become untenable," she said in her resignation letter.
Robredo also said that she had clashed with Duterte over his policies, including the drug war.