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Duterte says he loves to see his VP
FILE: Vice President Leni Robredo pays courtesy call on President Rodrigo R. Duterte at the Malacañan Palace, afternoon of July 4, 2016. (KING RODRIGUEZ/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)
On a rare occasion, the top two leaders of the country shared stages for three times this week, with the President greeting his Vice President.
“This is the third time that I have greeted you, my lady,” President Rodrigo Roa Duterte told Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo during the commencement exercises of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) in Silang, Cavite on March 21.
Duterte cited all the events both of them attended, first in Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio on March 18, and the second during the 121st founding anniversary celebration of the Philippine Army in Taguig on March 20.
“Sana po may graduation pang iba para magkita pa rin tayo (I hope there are more graduations to attend to so we can still meet). I love to see my vice president,” the President teased.
During the 121st anniversary of the army, he jested that his recent meeting with the security council finished late because she was the topic.
“Hindi ako nagbabasa ng speech kaya lang (I do not read speeches but), I am very sorry I was late, because we ended the Cabinet meeting at 3:00 in the morning. We started at two in the afternoon. Natapos ho kami Ma’am ng 3 [a.m.], ang pinag-usapan namin ikaw (We finished at 3:00 a.m. We were talking about you),” Duterte said, earning a laughter from Robredo and the audience.
During his speech before the PMA graduates, he also acknowledged the Vice President’s presence by saying, “Kaibigan man kami ni Ma’am (Ma’am and I are friends).”
This graduation ceremony was the first time for Duterte and Robredo to meet this year.
Robredo was formerly the chairperson of the Housing Urban and Development Coordinating Council; however, this position opened by Duterte for her only lasted a few months since she resigned in December 2016.
According to the Vice President, she had different views with the President which pushed her to quit the post. She added that it was also because her expressing a different view as a Cabinet member is given political colors.
“Perhaps I will the President that I would be very much willing to work with him, I would be very much willing to support what he’s doing. But if there are things that we don’t agree on, I would hav to say it. If that’s okay with him, then okay,” Robredo told CNN Philippines in 2016.
The Palace through Spokesman Harry Roque, Jr. said that they appreciate Robredo’s openness but Duterte has yet to offer another Cabinet post to her.
