(Eagle News) Vice President Leni Robredo now heads the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).
President Rodrigo Duterte himself made the offer to the Vice-President whom he called “Ma’am Leni” when he made a phone call to her in the middle of a press briefing. This was after he was asked by a PTV-4 broadcaster about the possibility of him offering Robredo a cabinet post.
“Ma’am Leni, good afternoon. Nandito ako sa opisina ngayon, tinatanong ako ni Rocky Ignacio ng Malacanang press kung bibigyan ko kayo ng posisyon sa gabinete. Puede kong sagutin (I am here in the office now. I am being asked by Rocky Ignacio of Malacanang press if I will give you a cabinet position. Can I answer (that)?” Duterte said during the phone call.
The President explained that he made the phone call to stop persistent questions about the issue, and that he is already bothered by it.
“Nahihiya na ako Ma’am. Nakikinig ang buong cabinet Ma’am ,” the President explained during his phone call. “Para mahinto na itong tanong-tanong.”
After this, the President said: “Puede ka sa housing Ma’am? Can you be the housing secretary? Tanggapin mo Ma’am? (Will you accept Ma’am) . The executive secretary will hand you the appointment para mahinto na ito Ma’am.”
Duterte invited Robredo to be in the next cabinet meeting on Monday, and also in the meetings that would cover security matters so she “would be kept abreast of what is happening in the country.”
The post of HUDCC secretary was also handled by former Vice-President Jejomar Binay.
Robredo afterwards issued a statement thanking the President for his offer.
She said that the housing post would help her push her cause to help those in the “fringes of society.”
“Nagpapasalamat tayo kay Presidente Rodrigo Duterte na itinalaga tayo bilang Tagapangulo ng Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council,” she said.
“Mas paglilingkuran natin ang ating mga kababayang walang tahanan at maipagpatuloy natin ang ating pangakong itulak ang kaunlaran at kaginhawaan para sa ating mga kapuspalad na kababayan. (I can better serve our homeless countrymen and I can continue my vow to push for progress and betterment of the lives of our underprivileged countrymen),” she added.
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar also confirmed that President Duterte has appointed Robredo as head of HUDCC.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II also confirmed that Robredo has accepted the post.
In a press briefing, Aguirre said, “The Vice President has accepted the offer and she was asked to report for the first Cabinet meeting on Monday.”
