As local news websites have been reporting, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said that offering Vice President-elect Leni Robredo a Cabinet post “never entered his mind”.
Appointing the Vice President to a Cabinet has been traditionally followed, although not obligatory.
According to the incoming President, there was no law that compelled him to appoint Robredo as a member of the Cabinet.
Moreover, Duterte added that he did not want to hurt Sen. Bongbong Marcos’ feelings, who was Robredo’s staunchest opponent in the recently concluded vice presidential elections.
Duterte also thought that it would be good if he and Robredo would establish “good rapport first”.
According to him:
“Maybe we can talk of just having good rapport in the meantime, kasi hindi nga kami magkakilala.”
As of now, the President-elect said that he was still thinking of what positions to appoint friends that he feels he owes a lot to, in respect to his presidential win.
Robredo, on the other hand, has said that she has no right to demand for a Cabinet post from Duterte, but she is ready for any task the latter would appoint her to.
Thoughts on this? Discuss in the comments below!
