PDEA: VP accorded courtesy

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Monday stressed that it has accorded Vice President Leni Robredo courtesy during her two-week stint as co-chairman of the Inter Agency Committee Against Illegal Drugs or ICAD.

PDEA chief Director General Aaron Aquino also lambasted Robredo’s earlier statement that the anti-drug chief was supportive in private but dismissive in front of media, stressing that he was the one who advised the Vice President to meet the four ICAD clusters one by one to better understand the committee.

“If you remember, I was even the one who asked the VP to join in one of our operations during the first ICAD meeting with VP last 8 November at her office in Quezon City for her to have a full understanding of what the law enforcers are doing,” Aquino said.

The PDEA chief added that while he feels awkward with the VP as his co-chairman, he respected her because she was appointed by the President and because she was the Vice President.

“In fact, last 10 December 2019, during the ICAD fellowship, I asked all ICAD members to make the necessary actions on the recommendations of VP Robredo stipulated in her letter to President Duterte dated 11 November 2019 and report the same to the ICAD on January 2020,” Aquino said.

He also clarified that he did not beg Robredo to stay with ICAD, contrary to her claim aired during her radio program BISErbisyong Leni last 15 December quoting Aquino as saying “Maam, huwag po ninyo kaming iiwan kasi maraming nangyayari nung nandyan ka na. kasi Usec lang ako.”

“It was the Vice President who said that she will stay as long as the President wants her to retain her post as ICAD co-chairman. Maybe the VP only got mixed up by the turn of events,” Aquino explained.

Aquino also reiterated his statement that Robredo did not heed to his advice to meet all four ICAD clusters.