The palace said that President Rodrigo Duterte still works even though he is at his home in Davao City. Further, his health is fine amid enormous responsibility. Indeed, he met with Moro Islamic Liberation Front founder and chairperson Nur Misuari at the palace yesterday, November 11, 2019. He also graced three wakes in the same evening, which included those of John Gokongwei Jr. and Lucio Tan Jr.
With regard to the fresh designation of Vice President Leonor “Leni” Robredo as Inter-agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs (ICAD) co-chairperson, Malacañan informed that there is not a date yet on the meet up of the Chief Executive and the veep. Moreover, President Duterte will be the one to invite the vice president. In addition, the palace said that a separate appointment letter will be issued to Vice President Robredo, indicating that her ICAD co-leadership is a cabinet level post. “Sabi ni presidente noong magkausap kami, ‘I’ll be the one to invite her’. The president was saying, ‘I will appoint her as member of the cabinet so she becomes my alter-ego just like all members of the cabinet'” (The president said when we talked, ‘I’ll be the one to invite her’. The president was saying, ‘I will appoint her as member of the cabinet so she becomes my alter-ego just like all members of the cabinet’), Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo narrated.
The palace averred once again that Vice President Robredo has a sweeping authority over anything related to illegal drugs, including the abolition of the “Oplan Tukhang.” “If she wants to scrap it,” assured Panelo, “e s’ya ang anti-drug czar, kung sa tingin n’ya mas effective, meron pang mag-effective . . . ‘di gawin n’ya . . . We will give her all that she needs. As I’ve said in my statement, she’d be given a wide latitude, and she should pursue her own scheme of things in pursuing the drug war” (If she wants to scrap it, she is the anti-drug czar, if she believes it is more effective, there is something more effective, she just do it . . . We will give all that she needs. As I’ve said in my statement, she’d be given a wide latitude, and she should pursue her own scheme of things in pursuing the drug war), Panelo elucidated.
On the probe on the drug campaign or provision of any assistance to its operations, these must be brought before the veep or the ICAD.
Last, Malacañan clarified that every member of the cabinet, which now includes Vice President Robredo, undergoes the evaluation and assessment by the President. Therefore, she may still be removed from the anti-drug post upon failure to execute her job well.
