Manila: Philippine Vice-President Leni Robredo has quit her post as head of the umbrella agency overlooking all housing concerns of the state, citing stumbling blocks that have prevented her from performing her tasks.
In a statement released on Monday, Robredo also said there was an ongoing plot to “take away” her elected post as vice-president.
“We had hoped this day would not come. 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,” her statement, which was also posted on her Facebook page, said.
The presidential palace said it was surprised by Vice-President Robredo’s decision to quit as head of the agency.
“I am surprised with her decision to quit. It’s still too early in the game. There is much work still to be done,” Martin Andanar, Presidential Communications Office Secretary said on Monday hours after Robredo announced her decision to resign from the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).
The 52-year-old widowed mother of three was elected last May by a margin of more than 200,000 votes against rival candidate Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
A total 52 million voters cast their ballots in the polls.
Marcos supporters are advocating for an independent recount of the votes.
Robredo is from the Liberal Party, a political organisation different from that which supported President Rodrigo Duterte.
Under the Philippine system of electing top leaders, it is possible for presidential and vice-presidential candidates to be elected from different political parties — unlike in most other countries.
Robredo cited deep-seated differences in policies and principles which prompted her to quit the post she was appointed to by Duterte, who is a member of the PDP-Laban political party.
“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 (Heroes Cemetery), extra-judicial killings, reinstating death penalty, lowering the age of criminal liability, and sexual attacks against women,” she said.
She listed other “obstacles” that barred her from doing her task as housing panel chair under the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), which include the slashing of her agency’s budget allocation, among others.
She also noted that she received a text message on Saturday from cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco, relaying the President’s instruction through Duterte’s special assistant, Bong Go for her “to desist” from attending all cabinet meetings starting this Monday, December 5.
“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,” she said.
For its part, the Presidential palace responded by saying that it wishes that Robredo continue on with her service to the country, despite her resignation from the appointive post.
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar said: “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.”
“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,” he added.
Robredo also said that there is an ongoing plot to “take away” her elected post as Vice President.
“We had hoped this day would not come. 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.
Robredo, who belongs from the now opposition, Liberal Party, won the elections in May of this year for the post of Vice President, with a narrow margin of only 263,473 votes over Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos.
Andanar said Robredo may have been over reacting when she made the decision to quit as HUDCC chair.
“The Vice President’s camp was reacting on speculation,” said Andanar.
Duterte on Monday afternoon, accepted Robredo’s decision to resign from the cabinet “with a heavy heart.”
The post of HUDCC chair had traditionally been assigned by the elected President to his or her vice President.
During the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, she assigned the post of HUDCC Chair to Vice President Noli de Castro. And in the presidency of Benigno Aquino III, the position was given to Vice President Jejomar Binay.
The position during the previous two administrations have been devoid of politics except during the last months of the Aquino administration when a falling out between the then President and Vice President Binay, compelled the latter to resign from the position.
Robredo, who described the decision as “the last straw” said despite her decision to quit from the appointive post, said she will continue to dispense her duties as Vice President.
“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,” she said.
