By Giovanni Nilles and
Janvic Mateo (The Philippine Star) | Updated July 8, 2016 - 12:00am
Justice Secretary
Vitaliano Aguirre II announced in an early evening press conference at
Malacañang that President Duterte called Vice President Leni Robredo yesterday
to offer her a Cabinet post to address “persistent questions” on whether
Robredo would be part of the official family. AP/Aaron Favila, file
MANILA, Philippines -
After two meetings, President Duterte has had a change of heart and offered
Vice President Leni Robredo a Cabinet post, as head of the Housing and Urban
Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).
He immediately got “yes”
for an answer.
Justice Secretary
Vitaliano Aguirre II announced in an early evening press conference at
Malacañang that Duterte called the Vice
President yesterday to offer her a Cabinet post to address “persistent
questions” on whether Robredo would be part of the official family.
In a statement, Robredo
welcomed the decision of Duterte to appoint her as HUDCC chairperson, saying
this would enable her to serve Filipinos who do not have shelter and at the
same time fulfill her promise to support those in the fringes of society.
While Duterte was on a
live broadcast over government station PTV-4, he instructed his special
assistant Christopher Go to call the Vice President.
“He asked the Vice
President if she would accept a Cabinet post, that of HUDCC. We did not hear
the answer of the Vice President, but from the face of President Duterte, we
knew that the Vice President accepted the offer,” Aguirre said.
Duterte used the phone of
Go during the call aired on PTV-4.
“Pwede ba housing, ma’am?
Can you be the housing secretary? Tanggapin mo, ma’am?” the President was heard
to have said.
“The executive secretary
will hand you the appointment. Mahinto na ito (questions) ma’am, kai tanggapin
mo kaya?”
Robredo, Aguirre added,
was told to attend her first Cabinet meeting on Monday. The date of her
oath-taking, however, was not announced.
The HUDCC and other
housing-related agencies were also given to former vice presidents: Jejomar
Binay during the time of former president Benigno Aquino III, and Noli de
Castro under the Arroyo administration.
“Many of the Cabinet
members are happy (about) the development. At last the Vice President is no
longer an elected officer without a Cabinet post,” Aguirre said.
He attributed the change
of heart to the two “amiable” meetings that Duterte and Robredo had – first at
the change of command ceremony at the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Camp
Aguinaldo, Quezon City on July 1 and then at the Palace where the Vice
President paid a courtesy call on Duterte on Monday.
Reminded that Duterte was
previously opposed to Robredo’s appointment to the Cabinet because of his
closeness to former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who was Robredo’s closest
opponent in the vice presidential race, Aguirre said “it was a reason given by
the President at that time.”
“With the passage of
time, there must have been a reconsideration of that decision,” Aguirre added.
Reacting to her
appointment, Robredo noted that addressing the problems concerning lack of
housing had been an advocacy of her late husband, former interior secretary
Jesse Robredo.
“Maisasakatuparan ito at
mabibiyayaan ang mga nasa laylayan sa pakikipagtulungan ng lahat (We will be
able to fulfill this and help those who are in the fringes with the help of
everyone),” she added.
HUDCC was among the
agencies covered by Duterte’s first executive order, which reorganized several
offices to streamline poverty reduction programs of the government.
The agencies covered by
the EO will be under the supervision of Secretary to the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco
Jr.
Following their first
meeting, Robredo said she was no longer expecting an offer of a Cabinet post
from the President.
“I am ready that I won’t
have a post. In fact, we already have a lot of discussions with the private
sector,” she said in Naga City on Saturday.
She said it would be a
bonus if given a Cabinet post, “but if there won’t be, we are also ready.”
On Tuesday, Robredo said
she informed the President during her courtesy call that he would get her full
support with or without a Cabinet post.
Against death penalty but
for federalism
Earlier in the day in
Marawi City, Robredo said she was against the revival of the death penalty
being pushed by Duterte but stressed that any disagreement with the policies of
the current administration would not affect her support for the President.
“Ever since, I have been
an advocate against death penalty,” she stressed.
But Robredo said she was
open to the proposal to change the system of government to federalism, noting
that her late husband was an advocate for local autonomy.
However, the Vice President
said some questions about the proposal must be answered, particularly on the
readiness of some regions to stand on their own.
“A lot of municipalities
are heavily dependent on IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment). The locally
generated funds are small. I want to know how will that be resolved,” she said.
Robredo also expressed
support for the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, noting that
criticisms such as lack of consultation might be remedied.
“This is an important
first step so we can move forward,” she added.
Speaking before local
officials and supporters in Lanao del Sur also yesterday, Robredo paid tribute
to the achievements of former president Aquino and expressed confidence that
the current administration would continue to bring progress to Mindanao.
Robredo said Duterte
would ensure that progress is achieved in Mindanao as he himself comes from the
south. “I think he will not neglect us,” she said.
“The benefits that Lanao
del Sur has received in the past five years, we can expect that (to continue)
at least in the next three years,” she said in Filipino.
“The challenge to our
local officials is how to maximize those that we receive,” she added.
Paying homage to Aquino,
Robredo said a lot of projects were initiated in the province during the past
administration.
“There is no reason for
us not to expect (that progress will continue) because the new president is
from Mindanao,” she added.
The Vice President went
to Marawi City to lead the ceremonial oath taking of local officials and attend
the celebration of 57th Araw ng Lanao.
It was the first trip of
Robredo to Mindanao following her assumption of the second highest post in the
land.
She thanked her
supporters for helping her win in the province in the recent elections.
“The office of the Vice
President is always here to support you,” she said, expressing confidence that
the local leaders would work together for the benefit of the people.
“I will never forget that
when I was in need, you were there to support me,” she added. “We will pay it
off with service that you will not be ashamed of. You will not regret that you
chose me.”
Meanwhile, Robredo on
Wednesday called on artists to guide the government on how it could help them
in their struggles.
“I understand that many
of you are among those who are overworked and underpaid… The least the
government can do is to help you out, make life easier for you without thinking
so much on making a living,” Robredo said during the unveiling of an art
exhibit at Solaire Resort and Casino in Pasay City.
“I am very honest that I
need you to guide me and make me understand how we can help you,” she added.
Robredo urged artists to
continue being a source of inspiration, saying their craft should be a unifying
force for the Filipino people.
“We do understand the
value that you give to society,” she said. “I hope that from now on, we will be
able to work together.”
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