President Rodrigo Duterte has declined an offer for him to serve as drug czar of his successor, President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Palace said yesterday.
“The last offer that I saw was to become the drug czar. But he declined that,” acting Presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said.
The outgoing president, however, has accepted the offer of his longtime friend and special assistant, Senator Bong Go, to serve as his legal consultant.
“I said ‘Mr. President, may I get you as my consultant?’ He said yes to serving as my legal consultant,” Go said.
“It is just one of his options. I cannot say if it is final because there may be other offers for him to serve in a high position,” Go added.
Marcos Jr. said he is “open” to making Duterte the anti-drug czar under his administration.
The President-elect said he and Duterte have met more than once, with at least one of those meetings happening before the May 9 elections.
“One thing that he was very assertive about was ‘continue the anti-drug syndicate that I started. Do it your own way.’ He really said that,” Marcos Jr. said.
Duterte won the 2016 presidential race due to his hardline stance against illegal drugs and criminality.
During his term, Duterte came under fire from human rights groups over allegations of summary executions in the drug war.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea earlier said Duterte is excited to enjoy his retirement, and has already started packing up his things in Malacañang as early as in May for his return to being “Citizen Digong.”
Duterte, whose six-year term will end on June 30, might teach in his hometown after he leaves the Palace, Medialdea said.