Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11) — The Palace is open to scrapping Oplan Tokhang if Vice President and anti-drug czar Leni Robredo would recommend it, the Presidential Spokesperson said.
“Basta si VP Leni ang in charge. Whatever she feels will be enforced, we will do it,” Panelo said in a press briefing Monday.
[Translation: As long as Vice President Leni Robredo is in charge.]
Scrapping Oplan Tokhang, one of the key programs of the police’s anti-drug campaign, was among Robredo’s earlier suggestions upon her taking the position of co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).
Coined from the Visayan words for knock (toktok) and plead (hangyo), the program has gained notoriety for the numerous deaths of drug suspects at the hands of the police.
Panelo reiterated that the Palace will support Robredo’s decisions as she leads the government’s anti-drug campaign.
This includes possibly increasing her budget and letting her meet with representatives from the United Nations, as well as United States officials.
READ: Robredo meets with UN anti-drug, crime office
However, the Palace maintained its stance against the potential visits of UN special rapporteur for extrajudicial killings Agnes Callamard and investigators from the International Criminal Court.
No meeting with Robredo yet
While Panelo told reporters that Robredo has been given a Cabinet position, a higher rank than that of her ICAD co-chair Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director general Aaron Aquino, Robredo has yet to meet with Duterte to confirm this.
“The President was saying I will appoint her as a member of the Cabinet, so she becomes my alter-ego just like all members of the Cabinet,” Panelo said, quoting Duterte.
Panelo said Duterte might invite Robredo to a one-on-one meeting after his three-day break, which will start Tuesday.
They are expected to discuss the scope and responsibilities of Robredo’s job as anti-drug czar, and whether or not she has to consult Duterte before making major decisions.
READ: Duterte to take 3-day break
