Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 27) — Vice President Leni Robredo is clearly not in sync with the administration in the fight against illegal drugs, contrary to her pronouncement that she is not an enemy, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said Wednesday.

“’Wag na tayo mag-plastikan dito. Klaro naman talagang [she’s] not with us,” Dela Rosa, an ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, told CNN Philippines’ The Source.

[Translation: Let’s not kid ourselves. She’s clearly not with us.]

The former Philippine National Police and Bureau of Corrections chief said Robredo’s criticisms showed that she is unsupportive of the anti-illegal drugs campaign.

“Kung [pagbabasihan] mo ‘yung pronouncements n'ya, ‘yung mga criticism n'ya sa war on drugs, makikita mo talaga na she’s not with the administration,” Dela Rosa said.

[Translation: Based on her pronouncements and criticisms against the war on drugs, she is really not with the administration.]

“Kini-criticize naman nya, meron pa nga s'yang prinesent [at] kung anu-ano pa sinasabi n'ya dun sa international forum na mga about criticisms n'ya sa ating war on drugs,” he added.

[Translation: She has been criticizing the campaign. She even presented a lot of criticisms in an international forum.]

In her speech following her dismissal as the co-chair of the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs (ICAD), Robredo pointed out that the government’s real enemy in the anti-narcotics campaign are illegal drugs and their sources.

READ: Duterte fires Robredo from anti-drug czar post

“Alalahanin natin na ang droga at mga drug lord ang kalaban – hindi ako, at lalong hindi ang taumbayan,” she said.

[Translation: Let us remember that the enemy here are illegal drugs and drug lords, and not me, moreso the people.]

On the vice president’s plan to publicize a report on her findings during her 18-day stint at the ICAD, the former Philippine National Police chief said she is free to do so.

“Go ahead. Hindi naman takutan ito. Bakit kailan ka pa manakot diyan? Ilabas n’ya kung anong gusto n’yang ilabas,” Dela Rosa said.

[Translation: Go ahead. Why do you need to scare us? She can disclose whatever she wants to.]

Robredo, the senator said, had long been releasing information about the anti-narcotics campaign anyway.

“Matagal naman na silang naglalabas ng impormasyon kahit na hindi pa sya kasama doon sa war on drugs. Marami naman syang sinisiwalat na impormasyon hindi lang dito sa atin kundi dun sa labas ng ating bansa.”

[Translation: They have long been releasing information about the war on drugs. She had disclosed a lot of information not just here in the country but also outside.]

On Robredo's dismissal

Dela Rosa did not blatantly express support for Duterte’s move to fire Robredo, but he said the President “has all the reasons” to do so.

“It’s up to the President. Alam natin na ang power to hire and fire [rests] with the chief executive,” he said.

[Translation: It's up to the President. We know that the power to hire and fire rests with the chief executive.]

While Robredo’s stint in ICAD was short, it was enough for her to “show signs or signals” that she was up to the task, Dela Rosa said, suggesting that she failed to do so.

“Pag-upo mo, hit the ground running agad. Nakikita naman ‘yan ng nagbabantay sayo,” he said.

[Translation: You should hit the ground running as soon as you assumed the job. Those who were watching you saw everything.]

Dela Rosa chided Robredo for consulting foreign individuals when she sat at the anti-drugs committee. These foreign entities, he said, may have “hidden motives” for helping the vice president.

“Imbes na harapin mo agad ‘yung problema dito sa baba, ang ginawa mo makipag-usap agad sa mga taga-ibang bansa lalung-lalo na sa entities known to be hard critics of this government’s war on drugs,” he said.

[Translation: Instead of facing the problem right away, she talked to people from other countries, especially entities known to be hard critics of the government's war on drugs.]

In a separate interview with CNN Philippines, Dela Rosa refuted criticisms that Robredo’s dismissal was the administration’s way to divert public attention from the issues hounding the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

“Gumagawa lang talaga ng issue ang gumawa ng balitang ‘yan,” he said. "Meron bang kino-cover-an dun na issues sa SEA Games? Timing lang ‘yun.”

[Translation: Whoever said that is only making up issues. Are there issues being covered up in the SEA Games? That only coincided.]