‘We can agree to disagree’

Leni: I have no right to demand Cabinet post

MANILA, Philippines - While she may not see eye-to-eye with president-elect Rodrigo Duterte on some issues, vice president-elect Leni Robredo thinks they “can agree to disagree” and still work together in harmony.

She is also leaving it up to Duterte to decide if she would be given a Cabinet post, adding she does not have any demands.

“In any relationship, we can’t agree all the time, we’ll disagree some of the time. It’s better if we can agree to disagree, but I’ll always assure him of my 100 percent support,” Robredo told reporters after her proclamation as the country’s second highest official by the joint session of Congress yesterday afternoon.

“I’m hopeful that our relationship will be good. We both came from the local governments, we can start from that,” Robredo said in Filipino.

Robredo, a congresswoman from Camarines Sur, won under the banner of the Liberal Party (LP), whose standard bearer Manuel Roxas II lost to Duterte.

She said she does not know Duterte personally but expressed hope their discharge of duties would complement each other.

Robredo, who used to be a pro-bono lawyer for poor women and children, had earlier expressed strong opposition to the death penalty, which Duterte wants re-imposed as one of his priorities.

He is also in favor of lowering the age of criminal liability, citing the rising number of minors getting involved in serious crimes.

Duterte also said he would push for amending the Constitution to pave the way for a shift in the form of government to a federal system.

“I’m willing to listen,” Robredo replied when asked about the plan to shift to a federal form of government.

She said differing views and priorities should not get in the way of a harmonious working relationship between the highest leaders of the country.

She said she is leaving it up to Duterte to decide whether she would be given a Cabinet post, as it is understandable for a chief executive to appoint only people he trusts.

The president-elect had told reporters in Davao City that he was not inclined to give Robredo any Cabinet post as he preferred to appoint only allies.

“He does not know me. I don’t have any demands. If I’ll be given a Cabinet post, thank you, if not, still thank you,” Robredo said.

During the campaign, Robredo said if she were given a Cabinet post, she would like it to be one that would help her fight poverty more effectively.

She said she was not inclined to work at the lavish Coconut Palace in Pasay City, where outgoing Vice President Jejomar Binay was holding office. “Maybe I’ll find a place with lower rent,” she said.

Prior to her proclamation, she and hundreds of her supporters attended mass at the St. Peter’s Church on Commonwealth Ave. in Quezon City.