Duterte Dares Philippine Opposition Leader to Run His Drug War
Duterte Dares Philippine Opposition Leader to Run His Drug War
(Bloomberg) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is looking to transfer law enforcement powers to his deputy who heads the opposition critical of his drug war that has killed thousands.
Duterte, in a speech before government officials in Manila, said he will order his executive secretary “to surrender my powers to enforce the law” to Vice President Leni Robredo for six months.
“You want this? You think you are brighter? Go ahead, give it a try,” he said Monday. “Let’s see what happens. I won’t meddle.”
Duterte’s plan would allow Robredo to run the drug war, which she said she wanted reviewed. Robredo, elected separately from the president, heads the opposition Liberal Party.
To contact the reporter on this story: Andreo Calonzo in Manila at acalonzo1@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Cecilia Yap at cyap19@bloomberg.net, Ditas Lopez, Ian Sayson
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