Even after meeting Duterte, Robredo no longer expects Cabinet post

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo during full military honors for Duterte at the AFP Change of Command riters held at Camp Aguinaldo. INQUIRER PHOTO/JOPAN BONDOC

Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo is no longer expecting any Cabinet position under the Duterte administration.

“Hindi na siguro. Ako naman, nakakasa na na hindi ako bibigyan. Handa na rin naman ako na wala,” Robredo told reporters in Naga City on Saturday.

(I no longer expect to be given a Cabinet post. I am prepared for that possibility.)

Robredo, with the entourage of staff and Presidential Security Group, arrived in the city via a commercial bus to attend an inauguration party.

The vice president said a Cabinet post would be a bonus but said she was ready to work even without it.

“Kaya iyong sa akin, bonus na lang ‘yun. Kung wala, ready na din tayo (It will just be a bonus for me. If none is given, I am ready),” she said.

President Rodrigo Duterte, whom she met for the first time on Friday, had said he did not feel compelled to give her a Cabinet post because he did not want to hurt the feelings of his friend, outgoing Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who lost to Robredo in the Vice Presidential race.

READ: ‘No compelling reason for me to give Leni a Cabinet post’ – Rody

She said she would put up satellite offices aside from the Executive House in Quezon City, which is the vice president’s official residence.

READ: Belmonte: In time, Duterte will be ready to work with Robredo

She said they would request for a budget for the satellite office since it was not yet included in the budget for the Office of the Vice President.

“Pero mahahanapan naman iyan ng paraan. Ayoko naman kasing hintayin pa na magkaroon ng budget, na maraming umaasa sa tulong natin (But we will look for ways. I don’t want to wait for the budget while there are people expecting for our help),” she said.

Still by bus

Robredo said she would still ride public bus every time she goes home to Naga City.

READ: Leni takes bus to Naga for inauguration party

“Actually kahit hindi ako nag-bus ganoon rin. Mayroon silang required na parang number ng kasama. So noong nalaman ko nga na ganoon rin, sabi ko baka mas mabuti pang mag-bus tuloy para mas tipid,” she said.

(Even if I don’t take the bus, there is a required number of people to accompany me. So when I learned about it, I thought it would be better and cost-efficient if I continue to take the bus.)

“Kasi kung pinayagan sana ako na mag-eroplano na walang kasama, mag-eeroplano na ako. Pero whether mag-eroplano ako o mag-bus, talagang kailangang may kasama,” she added.

(If only they allowed me to take the plane by myself, then I would take the plane. But protocol dictates that whether I take the plane or the bus, I should have companions.)

But she said she might limit her going back and forth to Naga City because it was expensive.

“Kailangan lang, sabi ko iyong mga plano kong uwi-uwi, hindi pala siya puwedeng ganoon kadalas kasi magastos. Kaya siguro babalansehin na lang,” she said.

(My planned back-and-forth trips between Naga and Manila are quite costly. So I need to limit them.) IDL

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