Team DailyPedia
MANILA, Philippines. Following their meeting at the Malacanang Palace this week, President Rodrigo Duterte has finally offered a Cabinet position to Vice President Leni Robredo.
Robredo will be heading Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), an agency tasked to coordinate the activities of government housing programs to safeguard the accomplishments of the National Shelter Program. The former Camarines Sur representative has accepted Duterte’s offer.
Last May, Duterte said he had not considered giving Robredo a post in his Cabinet because of his friendship with losing vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“That (giving Robredo a Cabinet job) never entered my mind actually. I am not trying to be smart aleck, but I’m still trying to figure out the selection in my own group and party,” Duterte said then.
The two top leaders of the country met for the first time at the Armed Forces Change of Command in Quezon City last week. This was followed by Robredo’s courtesy call on the President in Malacanang last Monday, July 4.
In a press briefing in Malacanang, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Duterte had a change of heart following their meeting.
“The meeting between the two was very amiable. I believe that was the key for the president to offer her a position,” Aguirre explained.
In a statement, Robredo thanked Duterte and said she will work hard to help those at the “fringes of the society”.
“Mas mapaglilingkuran natin ang ating mga kababayang walang tahanan at maipagpapatuloy natin ang ating pangakong itulak ang kaunlaran at kaginhawaan para sa ating mga kapus palad na kababayan,” Robredo said.
(The more we can serve our countrymen who have no homes and we can follow through on our promise to push progress for our less fortunate countrymen.)
The same position was held by former vice president Jejomar Binay under the Aquino administration.
