Vice President-elect Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo on Monday said she understands if President-elect Rodrigo Duterte is having a difficult time thinking if he would give her a Cabinet position in the incoming administration.
In a press conference after her proclamation, Robredo put herself in Duterte’s shoes and said she would appoint people whom she personally trusts even if she was the President.
“Ako naiintindihan ko siya kasi ‘yung Cabinet secretary, ‘yun dapat alter ego ng Presidente. Wala naman siyang obligasyon na i-appoint ako to any Cabinet position. Although that is always an option,” Robredo told reporters at the House of Representatives.
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(I understand him because a Cabinet secretary is the President’s alter ego. He has no obligation to appoint me to any Cabinet position. Although that is always an option.)
“Pero kahit siguro ako nasa posisyon ni President Duterte, syempre ang gusto kong i-appoint ‘yung mga tinitiwalaan ko. Sinabi niya naman na hindi pa kami magkakilala. So nandoon din ‘yung pangamba niya na hindi niya ako kilala, hindi niya alam kung maaasahan niya ko, kaya naiintindihan ko ‘yun,” she said.
(If I were in President Duterte’s position, I would also like to appoint those I trust. He said that we don’t know each other yet. So there is fear that he doesn’t know me, he doesn’t know if he could count on me, I understand that.)
Duterte on late Saturday said giving Robredo a Cabinet post never entered his mind, saying he was first looking to pay back people who were instrumental in his landslide victory. The mayor said “an opportunity” for Robredo “would come later.”
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The widow of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said she has no right to demand anything from the incoming President. She vowed to work harder if Duterte would not appoint her to a Cabinet position.
“‘Yung sa akin naman, wala akong kahit na anong karapatan mag-demand. ‘Yung buong prerogative sa pag-appoint kanya ‘yun. Kahit hindi ako mabigyan siguro ng kahit anong extra trabaho hindi naman niya ‘yun kasalanan. ‘Yung sa akin, kung mabigyan salamat, ‘pag hindi pag-iigihan natin ‘yung opisina ng vice president,” Robredo said.
(I have no right to demand. Appointing is his entire prerogative. It’s not his fault if I wouldn’t be given any extra work. If I would be given [a Cabinet position], I would be thankful but if not, I would work hard in the office of the vice president.)
Robredo previously said she would focus on antipoverty programs if she would not be given a Cabinet post. RAM/rga