Palace: No Marcos factor in Cabinet ban vs Robredo

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang yesterday insisted that there was no “Marcos factor” in the decision of President Duterte to ban Vice President Leni Robredo from attending Cabinet meeting.

Rather, Robredo’s “political actions” – not her political affiliation – made Duterte uncomfortable and which prompted him to bar her from Cabinet meetings, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella clarified yesterday.

“There are members of the Cabinet who don’t want me there, but Bongbong Marcos instead,” Robredo had said, referring to former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. by his nickname.

Marcos lost to Robredo in the vice presidential race last May, and has filed a protest.

“Bongbong joined the President in China, and he was introduced as vice president. But I endured all of these,” Robredo said in a press conference. “They are trying to ease me out. There’s no longer sense (for me to stay in the Cabinet).”

In a press conference yesterday, Abella said “the President, I suppose, felt uncomfortable with her engagement with certain political actions.”

Asked to specify the political actions that compelled Duterte to ask Robredo to desist from attending Cabinet meetings, Abella replied: “I cannot speculate on that. He did not mention it.”

The Vice President has been vocal against the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Earlier yesterday, she explained she was at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani on EDSA on Nov. 30 not as a protester but as guest in the awarding of individuals who fought the Marcos dictatorship.

She has also denounced rising cases of summary executions in the conduct of the administration’s war on illegal drugs.

Abella also made it clear Duterte’s decision had nothing to do with Robredo’s political ties. Robredo is the highest elected official of the Liberal Party. 

“No, it’s hardly that. It is a question of the political actions that she takes, which will be relative to, not directly the reason for (her being banned in Cabinet meetings),” Abella pointed out.

“Remember that it is his personal choice and the relationship between Cabinet members and the President is based on trust. And should the President come to the point where he feels that he cannot fully work with or is uncomfortable with a particular Cabinet secretary, then it is his prerogative to release such a member,” he added.

Robredo resigned from the top post of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) a day after receiving a text message from Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. asking her to “desist” from attending Cabinet meetings.

When reminded that Cabinet officials identified with the Left also joined anti-Marcos rallies but were not excluded from official meetings, Abella stressed there was no double standard involved.

Among the officials who participated in protests against Marcos’ burial at the Libingan were Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, National Anti-Poverty Commission chairperson Liza Maza and Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo.

“The President recognizes that certain members, Cabinet members, because of their personal conviction and ideological beliefs were actually voicing – he allowed them that,” Abella said.

“He (Duterte) said, ‘This is the song of the Left,’ in other words, it’s expected of them,” he added.

 “It’s not a double standard but basically it was not a political action against, it was simply an expression of their ideological conviction,” he pointed out.

Abella also clarified that Robredo’s exclusion from Cabinet meetings was only due to differences with the President and not because of her performance as housing chief.

“It’s a question of opinion or political stance or political actions. So, it’s not about inefficiency. So, disengage yourself from that,” he said.