The word war between Vice President Leni Robredo and administration officials continued Tuesday, even though she had been fired as the nation’s drug czar two days ago.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Aaron Aquino egged Robredo to do as she promised and make public her “discoveries” about the government’s war on drugs.
“I believe that whatever revelations she has would help us in improving and furthering the anti-illegal drug campaign,” he said.
The Palace earlier said President Rodrigo Duterte was offended when Robredo dared him to fire her if he could not trust her.
READ: Rody fires Leni from ICAD
Robredo, on the other hand, twitted the President, asking him what he was so afraid of that he would remove her.
READ: Leni vows to pursue fight
Despite her ouster, she said she would not give up the fight against illegal drugs.
Senator Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, said it was no longer necessary for Robredo to publicize her findings after her short stint as ICAD co-chairperson.
“What for? Just because you were given a responsibility, now that you have been sacked, you will publicize what you found out?” Lacson said.
He said Robredo should report her findings only if it can help the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
“It still depends on what she will reveal. If it is to destroy or impede the anti-illegal drugs campaign, I hope not. But if what she discovered is to enhance the fight against illegal drugs, then by all means. But if she found out mistakes that would point to several persons as criminally liable, she should have done that when was still in the position,” Lacson said.
The President’s spokesman, Salvador Panelo took another shot at the vice president, who said she was not yet done.
“If she says she is not done yet, I believe it. She is not yet over with her blunders,” Panelo said.
President Duterte fired Robredo as co-chair of ICAD on Sunday, only 18 days into the job.
Robredo, however, said she will disclose matters she had discovered in her short stint in ICAD.
“In the coming days, I will give a report to the people. I will reveal what I discovered and my recommendations,” Robredo said.
“I assure you that even if I was stripped of the position, my determination to stop the killings, to make those accountable pays and to win our campaign against illegal drugs remains,” she added.
Robredo met with an anti-drug group in Naga City, the Mothers Against Drug Abuse in Naga City.
She said it is important for communities to work together in providing mechanisms to help drug dependents who surrendered to the government recover from their addiction.
“Even if I am no longer in a position, it does not mean that we cannot do anything. I am getting more enthusiastic now because I have already seen where the shortcomings are. We will not just criticize, but we will look for solutions,” she told the MADA members.
She called on the groups to report drug-related deaths.
“If there are reports, look at the details of the deaths so we could seek justice for those involved,’ she said.
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