MANILA - If the President's anti-drug campaign were successful, he won't have to delegate it.

Vice President Leni Robredo had this comment Tuesday on President Rodrigo Duterte's offer to let her handle the anti-drug campaign.

"Kung walang failure, bakit ipapasa sa akin? ‘Di ba? Kasi ipapasa mo lang ang isang bagay kapag hindi mo na kayang gawin. Kung hindi— Kung successful kasi siya, hindi kailangang ipasa, kasi wala nang ipapasa, eh. Kasi nagawa mo na. Pero kung ipapasa mo sa iba, hindi ba admission iyon na ang dami pang kailangan gawin?" Robredo told reporters in Iloilo City.

(But if it was not a failure, why are they passing it on to me? Because you pass on things if you can't do them. If they were successful, they don't need to pass it on, because there will be nothing to pass on, because you've already done it. But if you're passing it on to others, doesn't it mean that there is still a lot to be done?)

Robredo, the leader of the opposition, said she has yet to receive any message or letter from the President about the verbal offer. She said she believes Duterte made the statement in jest.

"Iyong dating kasi sa akin, parang napikon. Pero iyong pagkapikon— iyong pang-iinsulto na from the very start ginagawa na sa akin. Pero iyong sa akin, hindi ko siya... hindi ko siya pag-aaksayahan ng energies," Robredo said.

(It seems like he took offense. But taking offense, the insult, he has been doing that from the very start. For me, I wouldn't waste my energy on it.)

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Tuesday said Duterte's proposition for Robredo to lead the government's narcotics crackdown is an opportunity for her to prove her mettle as the head of the opposition.

"The ball is in her court," said Panelo, who noted that Duterte's offer is "a rare opportunity for a critic...to show her mettle."

The Palace has yet to send a formal letter to Robredo's office as Duterte announced on Monday.

The President had said he was challenging Robredo to be the administration's drug czar for 6 months amid her criticism of his war on drugs.

• 'Subukan mo': Duterte says to give Robredo law enforcement powers for 6 months

Robredo recently called on Duterte to allow the United Nations to investigate his war on drugs which she said was “obviously, not working.”

She later clarified that she meant to urge administration leaders to "step back and assess" the narcotics crackdown.

• Robredo pushes for health-based approach to stop drug addiction

Robredo has a frosty relationship with Duterte as they are oftentimes at odds over different issues and policies.