By Raymund Antonio Her drug czar stint may not have lasted long, but Vice President Leonor “Leni” Robredo is taking her efforts to contribute to the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign in the coming year. Atty. Barry Gutierrez
(FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN) Vice Presidential spokesman Barry Gutierrez said work is not over for Robredo after her removal from the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) as co-chair. “For 2020, sinabi naman niya when she reacted to be removed from ICAD, hindi pa siya tapos. I think that bilang isang public office, isang public servant, talagang sineseryoso niya ang kanyang trabaho,” Gutierrez told Manila Bulletin. (For 2020, she said when she reacted to her removal from ICAD, she is not yet done. I think that being in public office, as a public servant, she has really taken her work seriously.) “Kapag nagbitaw ng salita iyan hindi pa tapos, siguradong maasahan mo may itutuloy na gagawin (When she gave word it’s not yet over, you can expect for sure she will continue her work),” he stressed. During her 19-day stint in the anti-drug body, Robredo highlighted the need for community-based rehabilitation that treats the drug problem as a public health issue. Robredo sat down with ICAD members, consulted different sectors, and visited community-based rehabilitation centers for drug dependents and drug-infested communities. She wanted the active participation of the Church, faith-based organizations, and other advocacy groups towards a more effective and organized campaign against illegal drugs. In 2020, Robredo’s office has lined up various activities as far as efforts to curb drug abuse are concerned. “Naka-lineup na trabahong gagawin on community-based drug rehabilitation, reintegration with the civil society group, including the Church na matagal na kumikilos doon. I think we can expect more from that,” Gutierrez said. (Work has been lined up on community-based drug rehabilitation, reintegration with the civil society group, including the Church that has been working on that for so long. I think we can expect more from that.) On her last Sunday’s radio show, Robredo disclosed she would release her drug war report for an improved campaign in late December or early January next year after two deferments. Her report contains the findings and recommendations from her short stint at ICAD, in which administration officials, she said, have nothing to worry about.