On Sunday, Vice President Leni Robredo received via text message an order to be absent from all Cabinet meetings starting Monday.
The text message read, “Gd afternoon Madam Vice President. Mayor Rody Duterte thru Bong Go asked me to relay to you his instruction for you to desist from attending all Cabinet mtngs starting This Monday Dec 5, 2pm. Ty”
This message was sent by Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco Jr., who has given confirmation that it was indeed him who sent it.
To refresh everyone’s memories, Vice President Robredo was hired in her position through a phone call in Malacañang during a live press conference.
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This time around, she was not even given the decency to be contacted through a personal phone call. Instead, she gets a mere text message with no reason whatsoever as to why there is a need to “desist from all cabinet meetings.”
Evasco, in his confirmation, cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason behind the President’s order and although he did say to stop attending, this was not equivalent to Duterte firing Robredo.
In an interview with dzMM, Evasco said, “There was no instruction for her to be terminated in her position. Whatever decision she would take in the future, it will be her prerogative.”
The order was too much for the Vice President, however, which led her to release an official statement stating: “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.”
Vice President Robredo’s full statement can be found here.
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Evasco further clarified that President Duterte did not order to find a possible replacement for Vice President Robredo’s position as head of the House and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).
When informed of Robredo’s decision to file a resignation, Evasco replied, “If that is the case then we will be constrained to look for somebody who will handle the HUDCC in her place.”
Sources: (newsinfo.inquirer.net/850547, newsinfo.inquirer.net/850530)
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