‘Robredo should shut up after refusing drug czar offer’

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo should shut up if she will not accept President Duterte’s offer to lead the war on drugs, Malacañang said yesterday as it touted the gains of the narcotics crackdown.

Duterte’s proposal for Robredo is an opportunity to prove her mettle as opposition head, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

 “The ball is in her court. If I were in her place, I would accept it,” Panelo said.

Robredo, leader of the opposition, has called for a review of the drug war, saying something is not working if the number of drug users increased despite the crackdown.

Robredo’s remarks did not sit well with Duterte, who responded by saying that he was ready to appoint her as drug czar to see if she can solve the narcotics problem in six months.

“As we have repeatedly said, you cannot just keep on criticizing the government, you have to support it; you have to offer your own talent and expertise in solving the problems of the land. So this is one rare opportunity,” Panelo said.

Asked to react to the possibility that Robredo may reject the offer, Panelo replied, “O, eh ‘di wala. Tumahimik na lang siya (Then nothing. She should just shut up).”

Panelo disputed Robredo’s claim that the drug war is not working.

He said the narcotics crackdown prompted millions of drug users to surrender, dismantled drug factories and established rehabilitation centers.

Panelo said Duterte, as chief executive and enforcer of the law, can delegate his powers, create a task force and appoint people to run it.

He said the President is serious about naming Robredo as drug czar. 

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano challenged Robredo to offer a better alternative to the approach of Duterte in resolving the drug problem instead of criticizing the war on narcotics.

“Make your proposal clear. Define your health-based approach,” Cayetano told reporters.

He argued that the health-based approach being espoused by Robredo is inapplicable to the Philippine setting.

“That is based on ideology from Europe that intends to legalize drugs. It is not fit for Asians, including Filipinos,” he pointed out. 

Cayetano, Duterte’s runningmate in the 2016 polls, was defeated by Robredo. The Speaker refuted the claim of the Vice President that the administration’s drug war is a failure.

Cayetano urged Robredo to “be careful with her words, especially she’s the country’s number two highest official.”

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa opposed the idea of allowing Robredo to lead the drug war, saying he does not want the country to become another Mexico, where the narcotics problem has been rampant.

He said the administration’s campaign against drugs should not be turned over to someone who has no proven track record in fighting crime. – With Edith Regalado, Edu Punay, Cecille Suerte Felipe