DOJ backs Robredo proposal to prosecute drug-related money laundering

MANILA - Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday backed Vice-President Leni Robredo's recommendation to allow the Anti Money Laundering Council to directly prosecute drug-related money laundering offenders.

"Yeah, I guess that's a good suggestion," Guevarra said on ANC's Headstart.

The justice secretary said the recommendations in Robredo's report on the government's anti-illegal drugs campaign were "in general, acceptable."

• Robredo: Only 1 percent of shabu supply seized in 3-year drug war

"I have not read completely the report. I just know about the recommendations she has made. For example, the change in the chairmanship of the ICAD, the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs…many of them generally are alright except that we need a lot of more fleshing to the recommendations," he said. 

Robredo was tapped by President Rodrigo Duterte as ICAD co-chair in November 2019. But just 18 days into office, Duterte fired her due to alleged missteps, including a meeting with UN officials supposedly critical of the campaign. 

In her report released on Monday, Robredo said the government's 3-year anti-narcotics drive seized less than 1 percent of the total shabu supply that flooded the country. 

• PNP disputes Robredo's drug war claim, says VP's report 'totally wrong'