Still no Cabinet post for Leni despite ‘warm’ meeting with Duterte
President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo met for the first time on Friday in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City after the wiining in recently concluded May national elections. PHOTO FROM Leni Robredo’s Twitter account
DAVAO CITY, Philippines—A Palace official on Sunday said that President Rodrigo Duterte will have the final say on whether he would give Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo a position in his Cabinet.
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar was asked if the decision of the President not to give any Cabinet post to Robredo was final.
He said: “Ito po ay prerogative ng Presidente po kung bibigyan po ang isang Bise Presidente ng Cabinet post (It’s the President’s prerogative if he will give the Vice President a Cabinet post).”
The statement was issued two days after Duterte and Robredo met for the first time during the change of command ceremony of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
READ: Duterte, Robredo finally meet in Camp Aguinaldo
Andanar described the meeting of the country’s leaders as “very warm.”
“Siguro po naman ay nakita natin ‘yung unang pagtatagpo ni Vice President Leni Robredo at Presidente Rody Duterte at nakita natin sa telebisyon at nasaksihan ko rin na (We viewed the first time Vice President Leni Robredo and President Rody Duterte met and we saw on television and I witnessed that) it was very warm,” the Palace official said.
In an interview with reporters in her hometown Naga City in Camarines Sur on Saturday, Robredo said that she was no longer expecting any seat in the President’s official family.
READ: Even after meeting Duterte, Robredo no longer expects Cabinet post
“Hindi na siguro. Ako naman, nakakasa na na hindi ako bibigyan. Handa na rin naman ako na wala (I no longer expect to be given a Cabinet post. I am prepared for that possibility),” Robredo said.
She said that a Cabinet post would be a bonus for her but said she was ready to serve Filipinos even without it.
Robredo won against Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in the recently concluded May 9 general polls by more than 200,000 votes.
The President earlier said that he would not give Robredo a Cabinet post so as not to hurt the feelings of his longtime friend Marcos. RAM/rga
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