VICE President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo is eyeing a new position in President Rodrigo Duterte's Cabinet because of her "desire to wield power," MalacaƱang said Friday, March 9.
In a live interview uploaded on his Facebook page, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said there was a slim chance that Robredo can re-join Duterte's Cabinet.
This comes after Robredo earlier expressed intent to work with Duterte again, should the President offer her another Cabient post and give her the freedom to express dissenting views.
"You know that indeed, it's power. It's the desire to wield power," Roque said.
"Well, she can hope to lay out (conditions, as she seeks another Cabinet post). It might not happen because the President, perhaps, will not give her any post (in the Cabinet)," he added.
Robredo, the second highest official in the land, once served as chairperson of the Housing Urban and Development Coordinating Council in July 2016, despite being critical of Duterte's brutal crackdown on illegal drugs.
She, however, quit her post in December 2016 after Duterte barred her from attending Cabinet meetings.
Roque said Robredo could not be part of the Cabinet, stressing that being a Cabinet official means you cannot oppose the policies and programs the President wants to be implemented.
"When she accepted the position of the Presidnet, she cannot criticized the President. She's one with the President. Perhaps, she realized that she once accepted [the position], then she might as well accept another post," he said.
"(But) you cannot criticize the President because you allow to be his alter-ego. Let's be true to ourselves. When you accept a Cabinet position, you're unified. You don't have personality. You are just an extension of the President," Roque added. (SunStar Philippines)