Rody to Leni: Stand by me

MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte did not offer Vice President Leni Robredo a Cabinet position, but he asked her to “assist” him as he leads the country in the next six years.

Robredo relayed this to the media during a brief press conference at her office in New Manila, Quezon City before noon yesterday. 

Robredo paid a courtesy visit to Duterte last Monday afternoon to personally convey to him her full support.

“I clarified to him that I was only there to pay him a courtesy visit. I told him that I did not come to apply (for a Cabinet post) but to personally assure him of my full support. I told him that with or without a Cabinet post, he can expect from me the same kind of support,” she said.

“When I was about to leave, he told me, ‘basta alalayan mo ako sa trabaho (just assist me in my work)’,” the Vice President quoted the President as saying. 

“I told him I will leave my number with his staff, and if he wants me to do a task, his staff can call me anytime,” she added.

Robredo said Duterte also told her to visit him in Malacañang frequently as she is part of the administration. 

“He told me that it’s good that I’m aware of the situation of the country,” she said.

Robredo defeated former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. by a small margin in the May 9 vice presidential race.

Duterte’s close relationship with Marcos was one of the reasons why he is not inclined to give a Cabinet post to Robredo. He said Robredo would not be part of his Cabinet to avoid hurting Marcos’ feelings.

New life

Robredo said she and Duterte also talked about their adjustments to their new lives as vice president and president, respectively. 

“We talked about our experiences during the campaign and our backgrounds. We have so much similarities in the sense that we didn’t expect this to happen to us. At first, we were both reluctant candidates,” she said.

Robredo said they are both not used to the VIP protection being given to them as the highest officials of the land.

“He told me that he is not used to the protocols and security, and I told him that I feel it too,” she said.

Robredo said they also talked about the difference between their lives in the province and in Manila.

Robredo hails from Naga City, Camarines Sur, where she served as representative of its third district from 2013 to 2016.

Duterte, on the other hand, served as mayor of Davao City for more than two decades.

The Vice President is scheduled to visit Marawi tomorrow to attend the post-celebration of the 57th Araw ng Lanao and Eid’l Fitr.