The top police official in Central Visayas is optimistic that the anti-illegal drugs campaign in the region and the effort to run after narco-generals will be more successful with Vice President Leni Robredo on board.

Robredo on Tuesday accepted the appointment as co-chair of Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD), defying advice from allies not to take the position offered to her by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Brig. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, regional director of the Police Regional Office (PRO-7), said on Wednesday the war on drugs of the Duterte administration needs unity from various sectors because of the magnitude of the drug problem in the country.

He said the menace of illegal drugs in the country has triggered corruption in the government.

“I think the appointment of VP Leni Robredo as co-chair of ICAD by the President is a welcome development… that he wants to unite everybody to join hands to once and for all eradicate the drug menace that breeds corruption,” de Leon said in a statement sent to media here.

He said Duterte’s intention is to give healing and reconciliation a chance in solving the drug problem in the country.

“Let me say this quote first: united we stand, divided we fall,” he added.

De Leon underscored the effort needed to address the problem on illegal drugs in some areas in the region.

He also noted the President’s close monitoring of some drug personalities who are even included on the drug watch-list of the authorities in Central Visayas.

“It is public knowledge that some areas in Region 7 are infested with illegal drugs. In fact, some of the personalities mentioned by the President in his drug watch-list are in Central Visayas, even some of the so-called narco-generals are here in Cebu,” de Leon said.

Robredo, he said, will have “a good opportunity for her to see the magnitude of the illegal drug problem” in the country by bearing the responsibility of helping Duterte in eradicating the menace.

He expressed optimism that unity between Duterte and Robredo will stop the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country.

“So let’s look forward to this development seeing the President and the Vice President working hand in hand against the proliferation of illegal drugs in our country,” he said.

In accepting her appointment on Tuesday, Robredo said the most important consideration for her in her new position is to become part of the “change to stop the slay of innocent people and hold those responsible accountable.”

She also said with the President’s remaining two and a half years in administration, it is not too late for them to work together on the problem. (PNA)