Robredo should stay out of drug raids – PNP

Vice President Leni Robredo has no business interfering in the law enforcement aspect of the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign as co-chairman of the Inter-agency Committee Against

Illegal Drugs (ICAD), the top official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

“When you say a co-chairpersonship in ICAD, remember it’s a collegial body and it’s supposed to be policymaking,” said Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, PNP officer-in-charge.

As such, Gamboa said, there is no need for Robredo to have a copy of the high-value targets despite her appointment as ICAD co-chair.

“You are supposed to review, fine. If you want to review the law enforcement campaign, would it really matter if you know who are on the list?” he asked.

Gamboa said that since ICAD is composed of four different subcommittees, Robredo should leave the law enforcement side to the PNP, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

The Vice President, he said, could focus on the advocacy and rehabilitation side of the anti-illegal drugs campaign.

“Why would VP not take the advocacy and the rehabilitation (aspects). Pasok yung sinasabi niya that the illegal drugs is actually a health problem so probably that can fall on advocacy and rehabilitation,” said Gamboa.

“But law enforcement and prosecution or justice could be best left to those who know it, which is the PNP, PDEA, NBI for law enforcement and the DOJ (Department of Justice) for justice,” he stressed.

Top players in the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign, including political allies of President Duterte, appear to have been ganging up on Robredo since she was appointed as co-chairperson of the ICAD.

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino was earlier quoted saying that he does not want Robredo to have a copy of the high-value targets in the drug war.

Gamboa defended Aquino’s stand.

But in a statement, Aquino said his concern in providing Robredo a copy of the high-value targets is not a form of disrespecting Robredo who his cochair at ICAD.

“The list is considered classified information that is why not everybody must have a copy of it,” said Aquino.

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