‘Whether he was wrongly advised or it was just an off-the-cuff idea in the heat of victory, the mere thought of considering Duterte to lead the war against illegal drugs is reprehensible.’
PERHAPS in a moment of euphoria or goodwill, President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told reporters in his first media appearance after his proclamation as winner of the elections that he was willing to appoint President Duterte (PRRD) as the anti-drug czar if the latter so wishes.
Marcos narrated to media men that he and President Duterte had several meetings before the elections, during which the Chief Executive urged him to continue the drug war, in case he wins the presidency.
Like in his public pronouncements, Duterte reiterated to then candidate Marcos that the government cannot revert to being soft on drug traffickers and syndicate members, whether small time or big time, since they are literally destroying the lives of Filipinos, many of them young, and in so doing, eroding the chances of the nation towards further development.
Kris Ablan, deputy Palace spokesman, said it is up to the President to accept or reject it. Ablan also pointed out that “there is no legal impediment for the former president to assume an executive position. He can even seek an elective post except for the presidency.”
Whether he was wrongly advised or it was just an off-the-cuff idea in the heat of victory, the mere thought of considering Duterte to lead the war against illegal drugs is reprehensible. The incoming president is vetting his people on the basis of their expertise, experience and track record in the field of activity where they excel. Using this yardstick, Duterte is clearly a failure, which even he had admitted in a recent speech.
President Duterte’s initial six-week timetable for ridding the country of illegal drugs had been moved to six months, then to a year, and then to six years, his full presidential term. Duterte is already saying goodbye to Malacañang but the drug trade is as robust as ever. With all the powers of the presidency, a large political capital during his early years, and a Philippine National Police ordered to shoot and kill, Duterte failed miserably in this endeavor — and now PBBM is considering him to do the same job for his government? This is like recycling a monumental mistake to again wreak havoc on the people.
Duterte has said that he would return to his private life in his hometown Davao City after his six-year tenure. Marcos should let him retire, as there are many young and capable officials for this job.
