MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) believes that Vice President Leni Robredo did not commit any “missteps” during her stint as co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).
“During her stay as co-chair of ICAD, we haven’t really noticed any report or missteps but in the continuing discussion of course there’s that exchange of ideas,” PNP spokesperson Bernard Banac revealed Banac in a television interview on Tuesday, contrary to the claim of Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo as the reason of her firing.
“In so far as discussion on a higher level, the PNP is not really involved anymore so we leave it to the higher authorities,” he said.
Banac, however, clarified that Robredo’s firing would not affect government’s anti-narcotics campaign.
“The PNP will continue on and will pursue the campaign against illegal drugs, especially high-value targets relentlessly,” Banac said.
“Her advocacy and desire for community-based rehab of drug usersmore transparency of the campaign against illegal drugsshare that her desire and the direction of the PNP matches,” he added.
On Sunday, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, through Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, announced that he had fired Robredo as a response to the dare of the opposition to fire her due to lack of trust.
Robredo accepted the drug czar post on Nov. 6. Since then, she had started consulting different sectors, meeting local government units and visiting rehab centers./PN
