DELA ROSA SUPPORTS VP LENI AS DRUG CZAR

SENATOR Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa said that Vice President Leni Robredo's acceptance on President Duterte's offer to be part of the government's war on drugs is a welcome development as he expressed optimism that it will bolster the success of such efforts to make the country drug-free.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Dela Rosa said that Robredo, as the second top official of the land, could buttress the administration's anti-drug campaign as he also thanked the Vice President for accepting the challenge.

"I am so happy na tinanggap niya (VP Robredo), isipin mo number 2 highest official of the country sumama sa ating war on drugs so I am so happy," Dela Rosa said. "I am very optimistic na mas

lalong magiging successful ang ating war on drugs with her on board dahil additional perspective yan on the war on drugs," he continued.

When asked on his expectations, Dela Rosa refused to comment considering that he does not have personal knowledge on Robredo's capabilities and expertise.

"Expectations? I don't really know her very well, hindi ko alam yung kanyang expertise, hindi ko alam yung capabilities niya but really from the bottom of my heart I thank her for joining in this fight," Dela Rosa noted.

Dela Rosa, who led the Duterte government's anti-war campaign since day one on his capacity as the national police chief, also said that Robredo should be tough enough in battling the problem. The neophyte senator also advised the Vice President to give it her best shot.

"She has to be tough... you look at the problem not as a political problem tingnan mo ito as a social problem dahil pag pinasukan ng pulitika, magkakawindang-windang yan," Dela Rosa said.

"Nandyan na siya, she joined the war, she joined the fight, so ibigay na niya lahat. Ibuhos na niya, this is not a war of President Duterte alone, this is not a war of the administration alone kung hindi war ito ng buong sambayanang Pilipino, at ang makikinabang dito ang buong sambayanang Pilipino kapag tayo ay nananalo sa gyera na ito," he further explained.

A day after Malacañang issued a memorandum appointing her as the co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD), Robredo has finally acceded. The Vice President will be sharing her latest tasks with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Aaron Aquino.