MANILA – Vice President Leni Robredo should “detach” herself from critics of President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs,” according to Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
“Robredo should be more active in consulting Filipinos on their views on the narcotics crackdown instead of listening to her advisers,” said Panelo, who disputed Robredo’s claim that the campaign against illegal drugs has failed because “it targeted the poor rather than big drug networks.”
“We can only hope that she (Robredo) will do more active consultation with her Filipino constituencies instead of totally relying on the insights given by her advisers whose ideas contradict the realities on the ground,” Panelo said.
“She is better off without them. She should rely more on her motherly instincts and gut-feel as a lawyer,” he added.
In an interview on Wednesday, Robredo said that Duterte must put an end to the bloody war on drugs as it has been “ineffective” and it was putting a dent on the country’s international image.
Panelo, however, responded to Robredo’s statement as he reminded her that majority of the Filipino people or 82 percent expressed satisfaction with the president’s campaign against illegal drugs.
“Robredo’s latest remarks are unquestionably bereft of factual basis and devoid of recognition of the successes that the war on illegal drugs has reaped,” Panelo said.
“She may not realize it but she is echoing the lies and black propaganda of some of her colleagues in the political opposition, which to say the least is unfortunate, especially since she was part of the Cabinet when the government’s program against the drug menace was launched,” he added./PN
