President Rodrigo Duterte does not find Vice President Leonor “Leni” Robredo’s actions as Inter-agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs co-chairperson acceptable, particularly her meeting with foreign officials and organizations. “Ang problema kay Robredo is right after she was appointed, she began talking publicly about inviting the human rights commission, she was talking to the United Nations, she want to talk to the European, at marami na s’yang pinagsasabi. Kung gano’n, sabi ko, I cannot appoint her as a cabinet member. I cannot trust her . . . not only because she is with the opposition. I do not trust her because I do not know her” (The problem with Robredo is that right after she was appointed, she began talking publicly about inviting the human rights commission, she was talking to the United Nations, she want to talk to the European, and she spoke about many things. If that is the situation, I cannot appoint her as a cabinet member. I cannot trust her . . . not only because she is with the opposition. I do not trust her because I do not know her), comments President Duterte.
The Chief Executive underscores the crucial importance of the cabinet meeting, saying that the country may be imperiled if unwarranted individuals are invited there, who will divulge classified information discussed in the conference. “In that cabinet meetings . . . we discuss day-to-day matters. We discuss security matters. We discuss critical issues. She was grandstanding na e. Just like a carnival after, she was talking right and left dito. Gano’n. Presidente ka. ‘Wag gano’n ka. You will just place the Republic of the Philippines in jeopardy” (In that cabinet meetings . . . we discuss day-to-day matters. We discuss security matters. We discuss critical issues. She was grandstanding already. Just like a carnival after, she was talking right and left there. That is how it is. You are a president. Do not be like that. You will just place the Republic of the Philippines in jeopardy), the President objects.
Notwithstanding the veep’s non-inclusion in the Duterte cabinet, her duties as drug czar continues, though limited from classified information. “Need-to-know lang s’ya. Need-to-know. To complete their. If she ask something, we’ll give her half of it. The other half, if it’s a classified information, there is no need for her to . . . In the first place, actually, what she should have done? She should understand that is to give the direction and the guidance, and of course, instruct the law enforcement agencies to make it more transparent to her liking” (She is only a need-to-know person. Need-to-know. To complete their. If she asks something, we’ll give her half of it. The other half, if it’s classified information, there is no need for her to . . . . In the first place, actually, what she should have done? She should understand that . . . is to give direction and the guidance, and of course, instruct the law enforcement agencies to make it more transparent to her liking), explains the Head of State.
The President opines that the state must not be blamed for the death of some people with respect to illegal drugs. “We kept on denying because it is the truth that we have. No hand in extra-judicial killings. And that is why I required PTV 4 to post part of my briefer the previous night because it is there where all arrests and incidence about drugs all throughout the Philippines are being posted,” elucidates President Duterte.
Finally, he poses a challenge on the veep. “Pati ba naman ‘yang, ‘yang prosecutor and the tweet. Nakito ko’ng tweet e. I am packed and ready to go and arrest Duterte. ‘Yan ang imbitahin mo. Gano’n magsalita sa’kin. * Leni, sa harap mo, sampalin ko ‘yan. Dalhin mo rito. I dare you. Invite him” (Even that on the prosecutor and the tweet. I saw the tweet. I am packed and ready to go and arrest Duterte. He is the one that you should invite. Talking to me that way. * Leni, at your front, I shall slap him. Bring him here. I dare you. Invite him), dares the Chief Executive.
