Charles Teves
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Thursday that Vice President Leni Robredo is not invited to the upcoming meeting of President Rodrigo Duterte and Cabinet members about opening up the economy.
Duterte and his Cabinet will discuss efforts in helping the economy recover and improving public transportation. The call for the meeting came after concerns about hunger and child malnutrition have been reported.
Roque said that the government is open to any suggestions made by Robredo as it relates to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
Robredo’s plans include overcoming humanitarian emergencies including poverty, hunger, unemployment, mental distress, and other COVID-19 problems. She also wants to restructure public and private finances, rebuild an inclusive, resilient and sustainable economy.
“Kay VP Leni Robredo siya ay Pangalawang Pangulo pero hindi siya miyembro ng Gabinete kaya hindi po siya maiimbita sa cabinet meeting,” Roque said over state television.
“Saka sinasabi ko naman po na lahat ng suhestiyon niya pinakikinggan natin kaya lang wala pong bago. Kung meron siyang bagong suhestiyon I am sure ikokonsidera po yan,” he added.
Netizens have questioned why Robredo was not invited while Senator Bong Go is expected to be in attendance.
Bong Go IS NOT A CABINET OFFICIAL and yet he’s in every meeting. @lenirobredo is VP how is she not a senior admin official? She is #2 heler!
Aminin nyo na lang, obvious naman, ayaw nyo maapakan sa mukha kasi makikita lalo ng tao na si VP lang nagtatrabaho sa gobyerno.
— MrsHan (@MoxieLi) October 8, 2020
How about Bong Go?😂😂
— Manu (@Manubelo_) October 8, 2020
Wag na anjan naman si Bong Go na laging nakaalalay!
— Mirador (@jengurionli) October 7, 2020
So Bong Go counts as a senior admin official. Hilarious.
— Fratello (@papalbadass) October 8, 2020
Roque: “Siya ay Pangalawang Pangulo pero hindi po siya miyembro ng Gabinete kaya hindi po siya maiimbita sa Cabinet meeting.”
But bong go will be there? Is he a member of the Cabinet? Even a first lady can’t be part of such meetings. https://t.co/01OuiqKAZI
— ricci (@ricci_richy) October 8, 2020
Go almost always accompanies Duterte everywhere he goes, and this has become an issue to many.
Recently, during the October 8 Committee on Finance session, Senator Richard Gordon mistakenly referred to Go as a “secretary.”
Gordon said, “Secretary Go is recognized,” as he gave Go the opportunity to speak.
Go then replied: “Ughhh sir… ginawa niyo na akong secretary uli…sir.”
Gordon then apologized but netizens thought that his mistake was a shot at Go always being with the president instead of doing what a senator does.
Sen. Richard Gordon apologizes for mistakenly calling Sen. Bong Go as “Secretary Go” during a budget hearing.
Gordon: “I’m sorry… You speak all the time with the President and [when] you’re there, you act as a secretary. Here, you are a senator.”
Go takes the gaffe lightly. pic.twitter.com/6sduFm3jHW
— Kat Domingo (@_katrinadomingo) October 8, 2020
Go was Duterte’s executive assistant and personal aide when the latter was still Davao City’s mayor. He once said that he is Duterte’s “utility man.”
Duterte then appointed Go as the Special Assistant to the President and to execute general supervision to the Presidential Management Staff.
