- Communications Secretary cited “irreconcilable differences” as reason for split
- He said Duterte expected Robredo to be team player as HUDCC chief
- He also wished Robredo luck in her endeavors as vice president
MANILA, Philippines – Amid the resignation of Vice President Leni Robredo as housing czar, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said President Rodrigo Duterte had to let her go due to their “irreconcilable differences”.
“As a Cabinet member, the Vice President is expected to be a team player where differences in policies and issues are discussed during Cabinet meetings. The President in turn respects any decision agreed upon by his Cabinet. Recent events, however, showed the differences between the President and the Vice President as becoming irreconcilable and public,” Rappler quoted him as saying.
“A member of the Cabinet enjoys the full trust and confidence of the President for he or she acts as the President’s alter ego. Having said this, the President entrusted the Vice President, whom we all know came from a rival political party, a position in his official family in deference to the wishes of our people who want both leaders to work together and succeed,” he added.
Despite this latest crack in the relationship between the country’s top two leaders, Andanar said Malacañang still wishes Robredo luck in her endeavors as Vice President.
“The Vice President has served our people for many years in various capacities and we wish her to continue this unhampered service to the nation to the best of her abilities,” he said.
Citing executive inaction and a text message from Duterte thru his personal aide Bong Go instructing her not to appear in anymore Cabinet meetings, Robredo said she was tendering her resignation as chair of the Housing and Urban Development Council on Monday, December 5, 2016.
