By Theodore Jason Patrick K. Ortiz A BREAK-UP due to “irreconcilable differences” trampled the Duterte cabinet following Vice President Leni Robredo’s resignation as housing chair. In her letter to President Rodrigo Duterte, Monday, Robredo said Duterte’s order for her to “desist from attending all Cabinet meetings” drove her resignation. “Your directive to me...has effectively made it impossible for me to do my job. Remaining in your Cabinet has become untenable,” Robredo said.
In a text message from Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco last Sunday, the President has ordered his Presidential assistant Christopher “Bong” Go to relay the message to Robredo that tells her to stop attending all Cabinet meetings starting Dec. 5. Robredo was appointed by Duterte as secretary of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC). ‘The last straw’ Robredo released a statement on Dec. 4, calling the act to derail her from office as “the last straw,” but she will continue holding on to her VP position and not allow anyone to steal it. Robredo believed it was her stand against the recent burial of the late Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani and other decisions of Duterte that led to the order. “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,” Robredo said in a statement. “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,” she added. Despite “major differences,” Robredo said she had achieved “solid accomplishments” as the housing chair. But she had seen the unwillingness in the administration to help her despite having the same “mandate to serve the people” with the President. Robredo said more than P19 billion was slashed from the budget for all key shelter agencies in 2017, her key shelter agency appointment recommendations were not acted on, and the Executive Order designed to make HUDCC effective was not signed. Despite the break-up from the administration, Robredo swore to continue supporting the administration. “I will continue to support the positive initiatives of this administration and oppose those that are inimical to the people’s interest,” she said. E
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