PDEA chief: VP can reveal what she wants

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Aaron Aquino is unfazed by Vice President Leni Robredo’s planned revelation of her discoveries in the administration’s drug war following her brief stint as anti-drug czar. 

“I really don’t know if she discovered data on the so-called extrajudicial killings, but for me, if she discovered some cases related to that, well, it’s fine. She should just reveal it, no problem,” Aquino said in an interview yesterday in Malacañang.

In Marawi City, Robredo told reporters that there is nothing to be afraid of in her report.

“What I am saying is that there is nothing to be afraid of because recommendations are made with the objective of improving what is happening now. No one has to be defensive because everyone should be open to suggestions,” she said in Filipino.

 She is scheduled to give her report at a press conference on Monday. She maintained that she did not waste the 18 days given to her as co-chair of the Interagency Council on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD). 

As this developed, the PDEA revealed that the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) had started to map out a more scientific way of determining the number of users and pushers in the country.

 Apparently, the four to seven million users and pushers earlier used by President Duterte and top government officials were culled from the number of surrenderees at the start of his administration.

Robredo had noted the lack of scientific baseline data during her brief stint as ICAD co-chairperson.

 “We have four million (in statistics) but it is not really that scientific. It is not that accurate and that’s the reason why the DDB is doing something to have a better and more accurate and more specific way of getting the figure,” she said during the briefing of the #RealNumbersPH yesterday.

Duterte had taken a hard stance in the fight against illegal drugs since 2016 as part of fulfilling his campaign promise to eradicate drugs in six months. He has also admitted his frustration in public about how the drug problem has become worse following the intelligence build-up, which showed some politicians and police officers are into illegal drug trading.

His bloody drug war had also cause a stir in the international community due to alleged extra-judicial killings.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that, from July 1, 2016 to Nov. 30, at least 151,601 anti-drugs operations were conducted and resulted in the arrest of 220,728 suspects.  

PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac pegged the number of suspects killed in drug-related operations at 5,552 during the same period.

Asked if the government’s drug war is better off without Robredo, the PDEA chief admitted he had a hard time dealing with the Vice President because she is higher in rank.

“I had a hard time as co-chair, to be honest with you. Number one, I am just an undersecretary and she is the Vice President. Second, I cannot dictate on her,” he said in mixed English and Filipino. “When Robredo started meeting with other groups, she’s on her own. I cannot tell her what to do. So, I had a hard time dealing with her. If and when my partner is (occupying a post) the same level with me, that would have been better.”

With the ICAD back to its previous operations, Aquino said he is more confident against running the campaign against drugs.

 “Of course, there is no more pressure… when she was there, I feel uncomfortable really because she is the Vice President but I think her recommendations were good. I told her that it would be better for her to be working on advocacy and rehabilitation because she can do many things on those aspects,” he said. 

“I believe that with her personality, she could have accomplished better at ICAD if she led those two clusters, and I remained on the law enforcement cluster,” Aquino said.
Aquino believed that Robredo could have acquired a better grasp of the problem if she heeded his suggestion to meet with other clusters than focusing on international human rights groups.

“She would have had more discoveries,” he said.  

Asked if he needs a co-chairperson, Aquino said he can do more if he can run the agency by himself.  “I would be more comfortable if I am the only chairman. If ever I would have a co-chairman, I hope it is somebody who is holding the same rank.” 

“If the VP can continue assisting the ICAD, why not?” Aquino said, adding Robredo can help the ICAD and other law enforcement agencies by virtue of her position without being appointed back to ICAD or being a consultant.  – With Janvic Mateo