Palace: Let Duterte appoint own Cabinet members

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte. KARLOS MANLUPIG/INQUIRER MINDANAO

Malacañang on Tuesday said President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s choice of Cabinet members should be respected even they do not include Vice President-elect Leni Robredo.

“Karapatan ni president-elect Duterte na piliin and mga bubuo ng kanyang Gabinete at igalang natin ang pasya niya, kabilang na hinggil kay VP-elect Robredo,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text message to media.

(It is President-elect Duterte’s right to choose who will compose his Cabinet and we should respect his decision, even that pertaining to VP-elect Robredo.)

After the elections, the Robredo camp thanked Duterte for saying that he will give the Camarines Sur representative a Cabinet post if she wins.

READ: Robredo thanks Duterte for Cabinet offer

This was affirmed by Duterte’s running mate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who said the mayor has long been considering what position to give the winning vice presidential candidate.

READ: Cabinet post awaits Robredo

However, Duterte later gave conflicting statements. He once said that giving Robredo a Cabinet position “never entered his mind.” He said he needed to figure out his choices from within his own party first, adding that he did not even know her.

Duterte said the earlier statements did not refer to a job but to an “opening of an opportunity.”

READ: A post for Leni? That never crossed my mind, says Duterte

For her part, Robredo said Duterte has no obligation to appoint her and that she will work hard even without a Cabinet position. IDL/rga

READ: Robredo vows to work harder even if not given Cabinet post

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