Category Archives: Government

Duterte Appoints PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino Co-Drug Czar

November 19, 2019 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Sick and tired of Leni Robredo’s illusion that she is the most powerful official in the country’s war on drugs, President Rodrigo Duterte put a damper on the Vice President’s Drug Czar fantasy.

Since being appointed Co-chair of the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs (ICAD), Robredo has been acting — and talking — like she is the boss, lording it over the many agencies that are part of the committee, including the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

In an unprecedented move, Duterte just appointed PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino as “Co-Drug Czar.” Aquino is the other Co-chair of ICAD.

”I don’t know what Ma’am Robredo doesn’t understand about the term, ‘Co-chair,’ “ Duterte said. “It means she is not THE Drug Czar. She’s not the one and only boss,” the President told The Adobo Chronicles

So it looks like from now on, Aquino will be the Drug Czar and Robredo the Drug Czarina.

All’s well that ends well.

Government, Law Enforcement, Politics

Duterte Says Leni Robredo Not A Cabinet Member, Not A Czar

November 18, 2019 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – One of the privileges enjoyed by President Rodrigo Duerte, or any President for that matter, is to be able to change his mind.

When Duterte appointed Vice President Leni Robredo as Co-chair of the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs (ICAD), it was with the understanding that the position would be of Cabinet rank.

But that’s all gone now.

Duterte said that Robredo is not a Cabinet member.

In making the announcement, the President pointed to Robredo’s penchant for talking — as she has been talking (and talking) to various groups, including foreign officials and agencies since her appointment as “Drug Czar.” The President does not want her to be talking (and talking) about confidential matters taken up at Cabinet meetings.

In speaking with The Adobo Chronicles, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that Duterte has also changed his mind about Robredo’s title of “Drug Czar.”

”There can only be one King, one Queen, or one Czar,” Panelo said, “and since Robredo’s designation is as “Co-chair” we can’t call her a Czar. Suffice it to say that we should call her “Co-chair.”

It looks like the VP’s title as Czar is mere “charot.” (Joke)

Government, Law Enforcement, Media

Philippine National Police Wants Drug Czar Leni Robredo Out!

November 18, 2019 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – In the first few weeks since Vice President Leni Robredo was designated as Co-chair of the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs (ICAD), the “drug czar” has dipped her lugaw (rice porridge)-tasting finger into almost everything.

She has demanded to be provided with secret lists and data, asked for an increased budget, convened unauthorized meetings with foreign agencies, and practically assumed the law enforcement function related to the war on drugs.

The primary enforcer of the war on drugs, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has had it with Robredo and wants her out!

But in its fact-checking investigation of the PNP’s statement, The Adobo Chronicles has confirmed that the police agency was misquoted by the news media. What it said was that it wanted Robredo “out of enforcement.”

Disappointing but we needed to get the facts straight.