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)

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Almost everyone is calling Vice President Leni Robredo the “Drug Czar,” but Malacanang today said it isn’t so.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo told The Adobo Chronicles  that “nowhere in Robredo’s appointment does it say she’s the Drug Czar.  Rather, she is Co-Chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD),”

Panelo said this misunderstanding may be the reason that Robredo has been acting like she’s the head of Duterte’s war on drugs, giving orders to the heads of the agencies that are part of the committee.

“If she is the Drug Czar, then so is Aaron Aquino, ICAD’s Co-Chair,” Panelo said. “The bottom line is that Duterte is still Robredo’s boss, so the President is the true, one and only Drug Czar.”