DINALUPIHAN, Bataan — Philippine Vice President and controversial co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Illegal Drugs (ICAD) Leni Robredo will grace the third year anniversary of Bahay Pagbabago on Thurday, November 21 at 9 a.m. at the Bulwagan ng Bayan of this municipality.
VP Robredo and Dinalupihan Mayor Maria Angela “Gila” Garcia will lead the celebration along with other local officials as the reformation center has been able to help rehabilitate 957 drug reformists who have graduated from the in-house, 30-day program.
The Bahay Pagbabago here is a joint project of the municipal government and the Dinalupihan PNP that aims to help drug surrenderers and drug dependents in the municipality to withdraw and recover from drug abuse.
The provincial office of the Philippine Information Agency or PIA-Bataan reported that in a bid to bolster the program, a memorandum of agreement will be signed by the Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council, faith-based organizations, national government agencies and civil society organizations.
In an interview with the local press, Wednesday morning after the opening of DTI-Bataan’s Pamaskong Diskwento Caravan, Mayor Garcia said it was Central Luzon Police OIC Chief, Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia who initiated to invite the Vice President.
In a recent published interview, Vice President Robredo has admitted there are limitations to her power as co-chairperson of the ICAD despite President Rody Duterte’s earlier promise to give her a free hand in leading the government’s war on drugs.