UPDATE 1-Philippines VP accepts Duterte's offer of post in drugs war

* Robredo says she will not stay quiet
* Allies say job offer aims to discredit VP
* Duterte angered by rival Robredo's criticism
* Robredo welcome in cabinet - Duterte spokesman

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By Karen Lema and Martin Petty
MANILA, Nov 6 (Reuters) - The vice president of the
Philippines on Wednesday accepted President Rodrigo Duterte's
offer of a lead role in his brutal war on drugs, even though she
expected her political rival's administration would try to
thwart her progress.
The appointment follows criticism by Leni Robredo in an
interview with Reuters and subsequent media appearances, which
angered Duterte, whose drugs crackdown has killed thousands and
prompted activists to call for international intervention.
Allies had warned Robredo, who was elected separately and
has an adversarial relationship with Duterte, that the offer of
"drugs tsar", or a joint chair of a panel on illegal drugs, was
a trap to ensure her embarrassment and failure.
She said she was sceptical about Duterte's motives, but
would take a chance.
"I am against the killings of the innocent, I am against
abuses committed by officials. He knows my criticism. He knows
what I plan to fix," Robredo told a news conference.
"If the president is thinking that I will keep quiet because
I accepted the offer, he is wrong."
Duterte's loyalists had urged her to take the role, saying
she had plenty of criticism and should put her ideas into
practice.
Ronald dela Rosa, a policeman turned senator and former
drugs war commander, said Robredo had a chance to impress.
"This is the time for her to shine... I will pray for her
success," he said on television.
The crackdown is popular among Filipinos, with a September
opinion poll showing 82% of respondents believed it effective,
although critics say it has been failed to curb addiction or
drugs supply or rein-in drugs kingpins. Activists accuse police of executions and cover-ups on a
massive scale being ignored by the government. Police killed
only in self-defence, the administration says.
In an Oct. 23 interview, Robredo said the death toll was too
high and international help should be sought if the government
kept tolerating abusive police.
On Wednesday, she said she had nothing to lose.
"If could save at least one innocent life, my principles and
heart are telling me I should give this a try," she said.
"They are asking me if I am ready for this job? My question
is: Are you ready for me?"
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Robredo would be
welcome in Duterte's cabinet.
"Her acceptance shows she is smarter than her colleagues in
the opposition," he said in a text message.