Is Duterte’s ‘drug tsar’ job offer to opposition leader Leni Robredo for real?

The Philippine president was angered by the vice-president’s criticism of his war on drugs, saying: ‘You’re brighter? You try it’

Duterte and Robredo have been at odds over his controversial drugs war since both were elected separately in 2016

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Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:28pm, 3 Nov 2019Updated: 9:36pm, 4 Nov 2019

Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte’s offer of the “drug tsar” cabinet position to his vice-president after she panned his crackdown on illegal drugs has sparked a flurry of discussion on whether Leni Robredo should accept the post.

Her allies and independent analysts are divided though, with Robredo’s spokesman Barry Gutierrez dismissing the talk, saying that “short of a serious offer there is really nothing to respond to”.

Political analyst Ramon Casiple said there was an element of risk for Robredo in accepting the offer, in case Duterte said he was joking and took it back.

“But … if she intimated ‘yes’, I think the official invitation would be there,” maintained the director of the Manila-based Institute for Political and Electoral Reform.

Philippine Vice-President Maria Leonor ‘Leni’ Robredo speaks during an interview with Reuters on October 23. Photo: Reuters

“Duterte likes Leni when Leni is amenable to him. He listens when they talk. But when she starts criticising him, that starts the bickering.”

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