Work together, succeed together

Together, however, and with all their different approach in combatting illegal drugs and their use, there is a chance that they could somehow push the President’s war on drugs further.

In April, a month before the nation decided on its midterm set of leaders, President Rodrigo Duterte delivered a speech in Malabon, north of Manila, that stunned the nation.

That admission was hard to swallow. The President had anchored his presidential campaign on two major promises: to stump illegal drugs and improve the country’s peace and order.

But to say that it bombed was a neck-breaker. Nobody tells it with his chin up.

Mr. Duterte, however, did not say he was quitting. No, far from it.

The drug problem is “swallowing” the country, the President continues to say.

And when he mentioned that he “has seen the devil and that the devil is ourselves,” he was also beckoning the nation to join in his fight against the drug menace.

It should not have baffled us anymore when the Chief Executive motioned Vice President Leni Robredo to join the fight against illegal drugs.

It only meant the President could not do it alone. No leader can.

He needs each and everyone’s help, including Mrs. Robredo, who gamely accepted the President’s offer to co-chair the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Aaron Aquino.

Malacañang, itself, did not hide this fact.

After the President’s invitation to Robredo, Palace officials were quick to join the issue when even presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the offer would have given the second highest leader of the land a chance to prop up her name.

Robredo is the top opposition figure. It is in her hands where the Liberal Party’s chance at redemption rests. Had she nixed the President’s offer, she would have also kissed her presidential chances goodbye.

PDEA’s Aquino was first to fire the volley. He said Robredo is not fit as the country’s anti-illegal drugs czarina. If that was not foul, it was at least inappropriate as he was to work with the Vice President.

He could now be in an awkward position dealing with Robredo.

But politics has no shame. They can exchange glances like they are the best of friends.

Robredo can take whatever insult is hurled her way. She can thrive with them because she needs them, too.

Robredo was not getting the media attention she desired when she has yet to receive the presidential offer to lead the ICAD.

She may have implemented exemplary projects for the poor, hiked mountains to reach small communities to deliver services, or linked up with the most destitute of people, but she never magnetized big media coverage.

Her exposure then was limited to those incidents when her name was mentioned by the President (at times with ridicule and contempt) or when matters dealing with Bongbong Marcos’ poll protest needed to be aired.

Panelo was right on the dot when he said Mr. Duterte’s offer would give Mrs. Robredo her chance to hog the limelight.

Politics has no shame and Robredo quickly pounced on all the opportunities presented her way.

She could not agree with her law enforcement partners. The PDEA, the police and other agencies with stakes in the anti-drug war also could not work with her as their leaders are busier in trying to please the President than get their jobs done.

There is nothing wrong with Robredo’s attempt to infuse several of her ways to deal with the illegal drugs problem, including the health-based approach her camp has long been brandishing.

That’s part of what she knows and is confident of doing.

The police and anti-crime agencies know their jobs well. But they cannot operate in a box and expect themselves to succeed.

Together, however, and with all their different approach in combatting illegal drugs and their use, there is a chance that they could somehow push the President’s war on drugs further.

There is no clear sign of victory in the horizon. No country has won this war fully. But the country can move inches if they will start working together sans the prejudice of politics.