QUEZON CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Quezon City Bureau) – Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo sat down with The Adobo Chronicles at her office suite in Boracay Mansion where we asked her questions regarding her recent public statement calling on President Rodrigo Duterte to stop his war on drugs.
Here’s a full transcript:
AC: So, you want the stop the war on drugs?
Robredo: Yes, it’s a total failure.
AC: But there are literally hundreds of thousands of drug users who surrendered and vowed to be drug-free.
Robredo: I don’t think there are hundreds of thousands. Maybe a maximum of 1,600.
AC: How did you come up with that number?
Robredo: 40 x 4 = 1,600
AC: So what do you want to do with the drug rehabilitation centers that have been built?
Robredo: Give them away to Kadamay.
AC: Do you realize so many innocent victims have been raped, killed or injured by those who have been under the influence of drugs?
Robredo: I don’t believe that for a second. There have been no such news reports on Rappler or Inquirer.
AC: Do you believe the Philippines should decriminalize possession, use and trade of shabu and other illegal drugs?
Robredo: Yes. Once we have decriminalized them, there will be no more illegal drugs, since they’d all be legal.
AC: You were criticized for that video message you sent to the United Nations where you talked about extra-judicial killings and “palit-ulo.” Do you stand by your allegations to this day?
Robredo: Nothing has changed. My main source, Rappler, has not issued an erratum, so I stand by what I said in that video.
AC: You have been critical of Duterte’s war on drugs, but do you have an alternative that you can offer the Filipino people?
Robredo: No more questions. Mag-meryenda na lang tayo (Let’s just have some snacks.)
END OF INTERVIEW