By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
Malacañang said that Vice President Leni Robredo should not be bothered by President Duterte's lack of trust on her since she was tasked to help run the country's drug war and not get classified information that she can share with her peers.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo; Vice President Leni Robredo
(PCOO / OVP / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the statement after Robredo and former President Benigno Aquino III wondered why Duterte named Robredo as the drug czar if he did not trust her.
In a statement, Panelo said that Robredo being vice president did not make her immediately trustworthy for the President, especially after her move to consult with international bodies about the drug war.
"Ms. Robredo must, however, understand that one's election to the Vice Presidency does not automatically clothe the occupant with trustworthiness. Trust is earned. The missteps of the VP did not inspire confidence in the matter of keeping to oneself classified information," he said.
"Her job in leading the agencies involved in the anti-illegal drug campaign requires competence and creativity. Trust comes into play only as regards the non-transmission of state secrets that imperils the safety of the Filipino people and the sovereignty of the country," he added.
The Palace official then said that Duterte's remark about not trusting Robredo should not hinder the Vice President from doing her new job.
"Since she will not be given access to privileged communication, she should not be bothered by the expressed lack of trust by the appointing power with respect to the confidentiality of state matters requiring secrecy," Panelo said.
"After all, she is tasked to help end the illegal drug trade in the country and not to get secret information of the government to share the same with her foreign and local peers," he added.
Panelo also reiterated that despite her being part of the political opposition, Duterte gave Robredo the chance to co-chair the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) so she can help instead of hearing her "endlessly voicing criticisms" against the strategies of his administration.
"Her designation is a call of duty coming from the Chief Executive to end the illegal drug trade in the country, a rare chance given to her, despite her being in the opposition, to help in the campaign against illegal drugs, instead of being a rambunctious critic who cannot see anything good on the war on drugs initiated by this Administration," he said.
The Palace official said that it was a good thing that Duterte is a president who could care less about political affiliation.
"The Philippines has been plagued in the past with petty, divisive and parochial politicians. Fortunately, change has arrived with PRRD having the interest of the Filipino people foremost in his mind as we battle against the dreaded and destructive evil that is destroying the basic fabric of society," Panelo said.
"What is clear therefore is that PRRD has transcended politics and trust issues that long divided the nation. It is a rarity to find a leader to give the head of the opposition party a golden opportunity to oversee the campaign against illegal drugs amid the surpassing accomplishments his administration already achieved relative thereto," he added.
Mind your own business
Meanwhile, Panelo told Aquino to focus on his case and on his health instead of talking about the drug situation in the country.
"He is better off focusing on his case pending before the Sandiganbayan, as well as taking care of his health, than touching on a matter related to the dreaded drug menace that he never gave the attention and importance it deserves during his six-year Presidency," he said.
"Lest we forget, the drug problem ballooned in magnitude in his time, obviously due to his neglect in countering this evil that is putting this country into the precipice of a generational destruction," he added.
In August this year, the Sandiganbayan granted the motion of the Office of the Ombudsman to withdraw the graft and usurpation of authority cases against Aquino for his role in the 2015 Mamasapano incident.