ASEAN DRUG WAR: MANILA, Philippines- Robredo accepts appointment to gov’t anti-drug body

Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday said she is accepting President Rodrigo Duterte’s appointment of her as co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).

Robredo announced her decision at a press conference in Quezon City. She did not entertain questions from the media.

“Papasanin ko ito. Tinatanggap ko ang trabaho na ibinigay ng Pangulo,” Robredo said.

“Tinatanong nila ako kung handa ako. Ang tanong, handa ba sila sa akin?”

Duterte previously offered Robredo to be a drug czar for six months after she criticized the administration’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs, saying it needs reassessment following the deaths of many suspects.

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But in a memorandum dated October 31, Duterte said Robredo would serve as ICAD co-chair, which holds a Cabinet rank, until the end of the administration’s term on June 30, 2022, unless sooner revoked.

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At least 5,500 suspects have been killed in police anti-drug operations under Duterte, excluding those killed by unidentified gunmen.

Robredo’s spokesperson, lawyer Barry Gutierrez, earlier described Duterte’s appointment of Robredo as ICAD chair as “problematic.” —KBK, GMA News /  By LLANESCA T. PANTI, GMA News