 |
Photo
courtesy of Office of the Vice President
|
Manila,
Philippines — With the recent acceptance of Vice President Leni Robredo as an
additional task from President Rodrigo Duterte as co-chair of the Inter-Agency
Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).
Senators
lauded Robredo for her bold move to accept the challenge despite criticisms.
“This is war, giyera ito; you have to fight,
hindi ka pwedeng pacute-cute dito.”
Dela Rosa,
was the former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief of the Duterte
administration’s when the bloody drug war campaign started, added “has to be
tough” now that she has joined the anti-drug campaign.
“Ang sinalihan niya is war on drugs at ang
kalaban mo diyan ay mga sira ulo, ang kalaban mo diyan ay malalaking sindikato.
So how can you wage a war without fighting? So, she has to fight,” Dela
Rosa told the media at the Senate.
“She has to
be tough,” he added.
Robredo,
said in a press briefing, that one of the reasons she considered in accepting
the position was the lives she could potentially save if she would be involved
in the campaign against the growth of drugs in the country.
“Kung maiwasan ang killings, iwasan. Pero how
do you… war na ito eh, kalaban natin eh mga siraulo kalaban natin mga armado
Kita mo ‘yung pulis , 120 plus policemen namatay sa war on drugs, so mamatay ba
‘yun kung walang lumalaban, may lumalaban talaga ,” Dela Rosa further said.
However, he
welcomed Robredo’s decision to accept Duterte’s offer, but the senator also
advised the Vice President to treat the drug problem as a social problem and
not a political one.
“You look at the problem, not as a political
problem. ‘Wag mo siyang tignan na politika itong problema na ito, tignaan mo
talaga ito as a social problem,” the senator said.
The former
PNP Chief was also ask why he thinks the VP could smear the anti-drug campaign
with political color, “What do you
expect? She comes from the other side of the fence.” Dela Rosa said.
“Sa opposition siya so sana pagpasok niya
diyan sa giyera na ‘yan, i-assume niya ang role niya as ‘Ako’y isang Pilipino,
gusto kong linisin ang aking bansa sa droga.’ Hindi papasok na ‘Ako’y isang
opposition, babantayan ko ‘yung mga ginagawa ng administrasyon na ito, kung
anong mali haharangin ko’,” he added.
Be that as
it may, Dela Rosa expressed optimism that the drug war would become “more successful”
with Robredo “on board.”
“Isipin mo, number two highest official in
the country sumama sa ating war on drugs.
So, I’m so happy. From the bottom of my heart, I thank her for joining
in this fight,” he said.
“I’m very
optimistic, mas lalong magiging successful ‘yung ating war on drugs with her on
board dahil additional perspective on the war on drugs, the more the merrier,”
he added.
0 Comments