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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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MANILA – Resignation or job termination?
Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo last night announced she was resigning from the Duterte Cabinet.
She received a text message from Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco Jr. relaying President Rodrigo Duterte’s instructions through his executive assistant Bong Go for her “to desist from attending all Cabinet meetings” starting Dec. 5.
In a statement, Robredo said she was tendering her resignation as chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) effective today.
However, according to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez who is a political ally of the President, Robredo was “fired” from the Cabinet.
Robredo was appointed chairman of the Housing Committee in July this year.
Citing a series of efforts to derail her from doing her job, Robredo said, “This is the last straw, because it makes it impossible for me to perform my duties. Hence, I am tendering my resignation from the Cabinet.”
She also acknowledged “major differences” with the President such as “[her] opposition to issues such as the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, extrajudicial killings, reinstating death penalty, lowering the age of criminal liability, and sexual attacks against women.”
However, her resignation would not hinder her from continuing her duties as Vice President, Robredo stressed.
She said she would continue to support positive initiatives by the administration but oppose those “inimical to the people’s interest.”
Robredo also said she will not allow the vice presidency to be “stolen” from her.
She won with 14,418,817 votes in the May elections, defeating former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. by slim margin of 263,473 votes.
Marcos filed an election protest before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.
On Oct. 20 during a visit to China, Duterte brought up the possibility that “if (Marcos) wins in his protest, he could be our vice president.”
Malacañang’s Office of the Communications Secretary said in a statement, “As a Cabinet member, the Vice President is expected to be a team player where differences in policies and issues are discussed during Cabinet meetings. The President in turn respects any decision agreed upon by his Cabinet.”
“Recent events, however, showed the differences between the President and the Vice President as becoming irreconcilable and public,” the Communications office stressed.
Even so, Secretary Martin Andanar wished that Robredo may continue her “unhampered service to the nation to the best of her abilities.”
Here’s Robredo’s full statement:
“We had hoped this day would not come.
“I had been warned of a plot to steal the Vice Presidency. I have chosen to ignore this and focus on the job at hand. But the events of recent days indicate that this plot is now being set into motion.
“From the very beginning, the President and I had major differences in principles and values. Since I assumed office, I have been consistent in my opposition to issues such as the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, extrajudicial killings, reinstating death penalty, lowering the age of criminal liability, and sexual attacks against women.
“But we both had a mandate to serve the people. I had hoped that this shared commitment to the poor and marginalized would transcend the differences between us. So, I took the job of Housing Secretary when it was offered to me.
“In barely five months, we have solid accomplishments in HUDCC. This, despite the obstacles thrown our way, which are:
“One, the budget for all key shelter agencies in 2017 has been slashed by more than P19 billion. Two, all our key shelter agency appointment recommendations have not been acted on. Three, the Executive Order designed to make HUDCC effective was not signed.
“Then, we received a text message last Saturday from Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco, Jr., relaying the President’s instruction through Bong Go for me ‘to desist from attending all Cabinet meetings starting this Monday, December 5.’
“This is the last straw, because it makes it impossible for me to perform my duties. Hence, I am tendering my resignation from the Cabinet on Monday, December 5, 2016. With this resignation, you can expect that I will continue to support the positive initiatives of this administration and oppose those that are inimical to the people’s interest.
“However, as your duly elected Vice President, I will not allow the Vice Presidency to be stolen. I will not allow the will of the people to be thwarted. I will continue to serve the Filipino family and fulfill their dream for a better life.”
Acting Liberal Party president and Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan was saddened by Robredo’s resignation from the Cabinet.
“We believe the Vice President should have been treated with greater respect. Nakakalungkot ang mga pangyayari. Hindi sana nauwi sa ganitong hidwaan kung binigyan ng kaukalang respeto at sapat na pagkilala ng Administrasyon ang Pangalawang Pangulo,” Pangilinan said.
The senator also urged the public to “defend Leni” and “defend democracy.”/PN
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