No Cabinet post for Leni Robredo - Palace

MANILA, Philippines — Despite her non-combative stance and her openness to work with President Duterte, Malacañang does not see Vice President Leni Robredo becoming part of the Cabinet again.

In a taped interview with CNN Philippines aired yesterday, Robredo said she was “very much willing” to work with the President and support what he is doing.

But Robredo, the highest elected official of the opposition Liberal Party, said she would continue to express her views about the things that she and the President do not agree on. 

Robredo stressed though that she would rather keep silent amid controversial issues hounding the Duterte administration than to hear her detractors accuse her of itching to replace the President.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said he was not aware of any offer for the Vice President to return to the Cabinet. 

“I do not know if she (Robredo) is being considered by the President for any Cabinet position. To the Vice President, we appreciate her readiness. Unfortunately, there seems to be no offer for now,” Roque said in a press briefing in Tarlac. 

Robredo was appointed chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council in July 2016 but resigned five months later after Duterte barred her from attending Cabinet meetings. 

Malacañang officials said Duterte made the move because of his “irreconcilable differences” with Robredo. 

The President later admitted that he asked Robredo to stop attending Cabinet meetings because she participated in rallies asking him to step down.

Robredo has denied seeking the President’s ouster and has expressed willingness to support Duterte’s programs if they are good for the country. 

Keeping her peace

In the same interview, the Vice President explained her silence on controversial issues facing the administration.

While she noted that women leaders are now more vocal in their criticisms, this also puts them in a bad situation. 

She cited women leaders who are vocal in their criticisms against Duterte including Sen. Leila de Lima, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

De Lima is currently detained at Camp Crame on drug charges, while Sereno is facing an impeachment complaint. 

“In my case, I try to hold my horses if it’s not too necessary. Because I’m the Vice President and they always put politics in it,” Robredo said.

“When you voice out your dissent, it’s because… you want certain things happening to change, or certain things happening to stop. It’s not because you want to oust the President,” she said. 

Robredo said her actions would always be interpreted as wanting to oust the President because she stands to benefit.

“If it’s not absolutely necessary, I keep my peace,” Robredo said.

For months now, Robredo has been notably quiet on controversial issues, including the extension of martial law in Mindanao, Duterte’s sexist remarks against women, and Malacañang’s move to ban Rappler reporter Pia Ranada from covering Malacañang.

The Vice President had been vocal in criticizing the administration’s drug war, which prompted Duterte’s supporters to submit two impeachment complaints against her last year.

Neither of the impecahment complaints, however, received an endorsement from lawmakers.