FOUR days after President Rodrigo Duterte said he does not trust Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, he fired her as co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Drugs (Icad).
Robredo served as anti-drugs czar for only 18 days since she accepted her appointment on Nov. 6, 2019.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea confirmed in a text message Sunday, Nov. 24 that the President has fired Robredo as Icad co-chairperson.
He did not specify any reason.
The President was earlier irked upon learning that Robredo planned to meet with the international community to discuss the Philippines’ anti-narcotics drive.
Robredo also asked for a list of high-value targets, a request that was denied her. Duterte said it would be “dangerous” to give Robredo all the classified information on his administration’s war on illegal drugs given her penchant to share information with the international community.
For these reasons, Duterte took back his initial offer to give Robredo the Cabinet post.
Robredo has yet to issue a comment.
Duterte appointed Robredo to the post on Oct. 31, 2019, just a few days after he taunted her to lead the anti-drugs campaign because of a report quoting her that the campaign was ineffective. (SUNSTAR PHILIPPINES)