Leni commits support for Duterte government

MANILA, Philippines - Vice president-elect Leni Robredo will work hard to serve the people, particularly the poor and marginalized, even without a Cabinet position, her chief of staff said yesterday. 

“With or without a Cabinet position, her commitment is the same, she will work with as many stakeholders as she can,” Boyet Dy told a press conference in Quezon City yesterday.

Dy also reiterated that Robredo would give her 100-percent support to incoming president Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte has said he is not inclined to give Robredo a Cabinet position, even if Philippine vice presidents traditionally become part of the Cabinet.

Dy admitted Robredo and Duterte have yet to formally communicate.

“She’s ready to discuss matters with him once invited,” Dy said in Filipino.

Duterte had said he found no compelling reason to appoint Robredo to a Cabinet position, citing his friendship with Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The son and namesake of the late dictator lost to Robredo in the vice presidential race.

Duterte and Robredo will also have separate inaugurations on June 30, as decided by the president-elect.

Robredo’s inauguration will be held at 9 a.m. while that of Duterte will start at noon. This means that Robredo has time to witness Duterte’s oath taking if she is invited.

Duterte’s camp still kept mum yesterday on whether Robredo would be invited to his inauguration.

“I don’t have the guest list,” said Ernesto Abella, Duterte’s spokesman.

Simple inauguration for Leni

Robredo will have her inaugural ceremonies and oath taking at the Quezon City Reception House, where she will hold office. Since the space at the Reception House is limited, only 300 guests will be accommodated.

Dy said Robredo saw fit to follow Duterte’s lead in holding a simple inauguration at Malacañang, where only 600 guests were invited and only simple food would be served. 

“The ceremonies will be simple but appropriate to the occasion,” Dy told reporters in a press briefing. “We’ll make sure there’ll be representatives from various sectors in the inauguration, particularly the marginalized that vice president Leni have long been serving as a pro-bono lawyer for the poor.” – With Paolo Romero, Alexis Romero, Evelyn Macairan