The palace insists that there is no need to give any more attention to whether or not Vice President Leonor “Leni” Robredo’s seat as co-chairperson of the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs (ICAD) is a cabinet post. “As co-chair ng ICAD, she’s already been calling meetings with anti-drug agencies, and she’s been functioning naman as co-chair. At binibigyan din naman siya ng suporta ng lahat ng mga ahensya na kasama sa ICAD” (As co-chair of the ICAD, she’s already been calling meetings with anti-drug agencies, and she’s been functioning, indeed, as co-chair. She is also given support by all agencies composing the ICAD), explains Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.
With regard to whether or not Vice President Robredo must be provided with the list of high-value targets and other sensitive information concerning the anti-illegal drug campaign, Nograles points to the discretion of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on the matter. “You have to understand ‘yong sensitivity of the list and siyempre, ultimately, sila ‘yong keepers of the list eh. So ‘yong accountability at responsibility ay ultimately nasa kanila kung magkakaroon ng compromise sa listahan” (You have to understand the sensitivity of the list and, of course, they are the keepers of the list. So, the accountability and responsibility rest on them in the event of compromise in said list), Nograles justifies.
On the rice importation in the country, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo has maintained that the President did not yet give any directive to Department of Agriculture lead William Dar to halt the sourcing of foreign rice. The issue, however, will be discussed by concerned government officials according to Nograles. “Mag-mi-meet ‘yong ating mga economic managers and the Department of Agriculture in response to the pronouncement of the President. Siyempre, pag-u-usapan namin ‘yan, and then, perhaps, we can discuss it in the next cabinet meeting” (Our economic managers and the Department of Agriculture will convene in response to the pronouncement of the President. Of course, we shall talk about that, and then, perhaps, we can discuss it in the next cabinet meeting), Nograles elucidates.
President Rodrigo Duterte is set to meet with the officials of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) tonight, November 18, 2019. It will be attended by Cabinet Officers Responsible for Development and Security, Regional Peace and Order Council, Regional Development Council, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and other cabinet officers, says National Security Adviser and NTF-ELCAC Vice Chairperson Hermogenes Esperon Jr. Here, they will deliberate on the Chief Executive’s mandate versus communism and in sustaining peace in the country.
