Duterte vows not to meddle in drug war once Robredo accepts offer to be drug czar

November 1, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte said he would no longer meddle in the fight against illegal drugs and criminality once Vice President Leni Robredo accepts his offer to be the "drug czar."

In an interview with reporters in Davao City Thursday night, Duterte confirmed that he would give a cabinet post to Robredo and to be the anti-drug czar until the end of his term by 2022 once she accepts the offer.

"If Leni accepts ---if anything that has to do with drugs and criminality, you ask her. I will appoint her. Let's see. I won't interfere," he said.

Since Robredo has been criticizing his administration's war on drugs, the President said Robredo could have known the solution to the problem.

"If she knows a better method of dealing with the problem, then there might be...If you criticize, you must have the answer. If you question, you must have the answer. Don't give me the problem," he said.

Duterte said he did not know if Robredo was just engaged in politicking.

If the vice president was into politicking, he told the Filipinos, "Don't vote for Leni. You will be pitiful."

He said if Robredo would become the president, it would be a disaster for the Filipinos.

Duterte said he did not need to put in writing his offer to Robredo.

He said he would just swear the vice president into office as a member again of his Cabinet.

"The Cabinet members are alter ego of the President. So if a Cabinet member does something, it is as if it is mine. So to make it legal, just a little fiat," he said, adding that he did not need to ask approval from Congress.

"I will just make her a Cabinet member. Then all the drug cases and all things, matters in connection with drugs, that's all yours until the end of my term," he added.

In an earlier statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said once Robredo accepts the offer to be an anti-drug czar, all offices, bureaus, agencies or government instrumentalities involved in the enforcement of the law on prohibited drugs would be placed under her command and supervision. She would have a cabinet secretary portfolio, to ensure her effectiveness in combating the drug menace.

Duterte earlier made the offer for only six months. But critics said six months would not be sufficient to address the problem. Celerina Monte/DMS