An unthoughtful challenge to the VP and an unthinking response

IN announcing on Monday that he was willing to cede his law enforcement powers to Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo for six months so she can manage the war on illegal drugs on her own, President Rodrigo Duterte may have found the fastest way to compel the vice president to deal seriously with the nation‘s drug problem and talk sense in her incessant criticism.

The vice president invited this challenge with her provocative statements and criticism of the administration in a recent exclusive interview with the Reuters news service.