In her statement on Sunday explaining her resignation as the chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), Vice President Leni Robredo explained her reasons behind the resignation and gave the assurance that she “will not allow the Vice Presidency to be stolen.”
“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,” she said.
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Robredo also acknowledged the “irreconcilable differences” that were apparent even before she was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to lead HUDCC and how she has been vocal in opposing some of the administration’s moves.
“From the very beginning, the President and I had major differences in principles and values. Since I assumed office, I have been consistent in my opposition to issues such as the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, extra-judicial killings, reinstating death penalty, lowering the age of criminal liability, and sexual attacks against women,” she said.
“But we both had a mandate to serve the people. I had hoped that this shared commitment to the poor and marginalized would transcend the differences between us. So, I took the job of Housing Secretary when it was offered to me,” she added.
The Vice President also enumerated the “obstacles” to her work as HUDCC chair.
“One, the budget for all key shelter agencies in 2017 has been slashed by more than P19 billion. Two, all our key shelter agency appointment recommendations have not been acted on. Three, the Executive Order designed to make HUDCC effective was not signed,” she said.
But it was a text message from Evasco that helped her made up her mind about resigning from Duterte’s Cabinet.
“Then, we received a text message last Saturday from Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco, Jr., relaying the President’s instruction through Bong Go for me “to desist from attending all Cabinet meetings starting this Monday, December 5,”” Robredo said.
She added: “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.”
“With this resignation, you can expect that I will continue to support the positive initiatives of this administration and oppose those that are inimical to the people’s interest,” Robredo said.
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Despite threats to the Vice Presidency, Robredo assured the Filipinos that she will protect the position.
“However, as your duly elected Vice President, I will not allow the Vice Presidency to be stolen. 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 said.
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