Robredo wants more funds for drug campaign

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo is seeking an increase in the government’s 2020 budget for the anti-illegal drug campaign, particularly in the areas of rehabilitation and prevention.

Speaking in her weekly program over radio station dzXL yesterday, the Vice President said the proposed funding for the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD), which she co-chairs, is “insufficient.”

“The funding set for ICAD is P15 million. I think this is not enough considering its wide responsibilities,” Robredo said in Filipino.

“We are also asking for funds to implement the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drug Strategy (PADS),” she said, referring to the program developed by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), one of the agencies under the ICAD.

Robredo said Sen. Panfilo Lacson, whom she met in her office on Friday, has committed to work on the increase of the funding of ICAD agencies during budget deliberations at the Senate.

“During my discussion with Senator Ping, he told me that he will be the one to defend the (ICAD) budget. He asked us to provide him what we need and they will try to provide it,” she said.

Robredo said Lacson, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, has also “promised” his support as she takes the lead in the government’s war on drugs.

The Vice President said the drug rehabilitation centers and drug prevention education need more resources.

She noted the government is targeting to have one rehabilitation center per province.

“Now, we only have one per region, actually there are two regions without rehabilitation centers yet,” Robredo said.

The Vice President cited the importance of establishing rehabilitation centers in every province to allow the participation of families in the healing of drug dependents.

“For example you are from Camarines Norte and the rehabilitation is in Albay, it will be hard for poor families to go there to participate in the drug rehabilitation program,” she said.

Robredo is also looking at partnering with the private sector in running community-based rehabilitation programs.

The Vice President said she also noticed the lack of drug prevention programs for the youth.

“What we found lacking is in the area of preventive education in schools. This is where we will focus,” she said.

There is no specific line item for the ICAD in the proposed P1.4-trillion General Appropriations Act for 2020.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, however, said some P15 million of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)’s proposed budget next year is allotted for the government body that oversees the anti-drug campaign.

The DDB, on the other hand, is seeking P366 million in funding for 2020.

The PNP, meanwhile, has allotted P142.51 billion for “police patrol operations and other confidential activities” against drug trafficking and other crimes.

 At the global front

Robredo is set to meet with representatives from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime today.

“We will be meeting people from UN ODC because they have several studies (related to anti-illegal drugs),” the Vice President said.

Robredo is also set to meet representatives from the US embassy and the law enforcement cluster of ICAD this week.

Asked if she thinks her meeting with UN ODC and US officials will upset President Duterte, the Vice President said she doesn’t think so.

“I think the President won’t disagree with this kind of campaign. Because he approved the Philippine Anti-Drug Strategy… and the strategy needs the (Philippines’) cooperation with international organizations not just other countries,” she stressed.

Robredo said apart from lessons the Philippines can learn from other countries and international agencies, it can also have access to vital information.

“Because illegal drugs is not just a problem of the Philippines,” she said, noting that a majority of illegal narcotics come from other countries, such as China.

Robredo on Friday made it clear there’s no need for the UN to investigate alleged cases of abuse in anti-drug operations.

“I have said this time and again, that I feel that our problem should first be solved internally,” she said.

“If there’s nothing to hide, then what are we careful for? But you know, I would rather that we take care of whatever we have to take care of,” she added.

 Better drug war

Robredo also assured Filipinos the government’s war on drugs would be ran “better” under her watch.

“I’m not promising anything here because I know how complex the drug problem is. But I assure this will be better than before,” Robredo said.

Robredo has led critics against Duterte’s signature initiative that left thousands of suspected drug offenders killed since he took office in 2016.

Duterte often reacted with fury when the global community and international groups raised concern over the spate of extrajudicial killings in the campaign against illegal drugs.

Duterte appointed Robredo as co-chair of the ICAD last week after he was irked by her claim that his controversial crackdown on narcotics is not working. 
Robredo has accepted the post and has vowed to put an end to what she described as “senseless killings” in the drug war. Her appointment, which will be in effect until Duterte steps down in 2022, has drawn mixed reactions, with some critics fearing her approach on the drug problem may be too soft.

Some of Robredo’s allies are also uneasy with her designation, saying it may be a trap intended to shame her. 
Now that Robredo is at the forefront in the campaign against illegal drugs, Malacañang said the Vice President should be given the chance to prove herself that she could do better.

“Let us allow VP Leni to implement her strategies. We can’t have too many quarterbacks, too many nitpickers, too many speculations,” Panelo said in a radio interview. 
“The problem is she just assumed her post and yet many questions have already been raised and many expectations have been expressed. She is just on her fourth day, my goodness, let her do her work. She has not even started and yet we are giving her roadblocks. Let us wish her well and support her,” Panelo added.

Panelo also agreed with PDEA chief Aaron Aquino that Robredo should join actual anti-drug operations, saying this would allow her to see what is really happening on the ground. Aquino posed the challenge to Robredo during their first meeting as ICAD chairpersons last Friday. 
“I was the first one to suggest that... I said when she becomes drug czar, perhaps she should join actual drug operations so she could see the realities on the ground. Seeing the events is different from hearing about them... We are pleased to note that the VP is open to that situation,” Aquino said. 
Panelo said the presence of Robredo in drug operations would not pose an additional responsibility to policemen because the Vice President has her own security personnel. 

The PNP, on the other hand, said Robredo still needs clearance to join actual anti-drug operations.

Lt. Col. Alex dela Cerna, PNP Drug Enforcement Group chief for operations, said their unit needs clearance first before Robredo gets to tag along.

“Maybe it might not be needed unless there are specific instructions coming from the PNP chief and the President because of the nature of the position of Robredo as Vice President and as a policymaker being co-chairperson of ICAD,” Dela Cerna said.

He however assured Robredo of their full-support, saying it was a good decision of the President to include her in the campaign against illegal drugs.

All access, all support

Panelo said Malacañang has no problems giving Robredo access to intelligence reports on the drug war despite claims that the information may be used to boost the complaints against Duterte. 
“The government is not hiding anything. These records are open. There is nothing wrong with the intelligence reports that identify those who are involved in drug trade. All agencies are following these leads so what’s wrong with that?” Panelo remarked. 

Sen. Christopher Go said Robredo will get all the support from the Duterte administration in waging the war on drugs but she must not forget that an iron fist is needed to fight drug traffickers.

“We should not baby these drug lords. These drug lords have twisted souls,” he said.

Go stressed the administration’s war against illegal drugs has been effective, as indicated by the approval that the President receives from the public.

“That’s why 82 percent of Filipinos are satisfied in the way President Duterte runs the campaign against drugs,” Go said.

Go said the administration will give Robredo the needed support to implement her plans. 

“We want her to succeed. If the Vice President can, she can make it 90 percent or even 100 percent satisfaction rating. As long as it’s for the common good, for the interest of all Filipino, we fully support her,” Go said.

Malacañang, meanwhile, did not feel alluded to in Lacson’s advice for Robredo to always watch her back. 

“Many people want to ride on that, politicians, those who want to smear her, those who would become her rivals if she runs for president. That’s what Sen. Lacson meant,” Panelo said. – Paolo Romero, Delon Porcalla, Alexis Romero, Romina Cabrera