Duterte, Robredo meet finally

Finally, they met.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo shared the same stage, shook hands, and exchanged pleasantries at the change of command ceremony of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, yesterday.

In his first speech before the military as Commander-in-Chief, Duterte afforded Robredo first mention in his salutation and drew a smile from his lady Vice President as if “breaking the ice.”

“This is my first time to meet you personally. I would have preferred to be seated beside you but nandiyan si Defense (Secretary Delfin Lorenzana),” Duterte said, drawing applause and laughter.
Later, Robredo described her meeting with Duterte, however brief, as “cordial,” but she did take the chance to ask him if she can set a schedule for a courtesy visit to Malacañang.
“Pagbalik ko siguro sa office iyon ang aasikasuhin ko na makapag-set kami ng meeting (When I return to my office, I will attend to that matter of arranging a meeting with him),” she said.
The two highest leaders of the country held separate inauguration ceremonies last Thursday with Duterte swearing in at Malacañang in Manila in the afternoon and Robredo at the Quezon City Reception House in QC in the morning.
Neither of them attended each other’s inauguration rites after it was reported that a supposed meeting between Duterte and Robredo set in Davao City before June 30, never materialized.
TOP-LEVEL MISCOMMUNICATION
Yesterday, the Office of Vice President (OVP) released a statement that there was no consultation about her supposed meeting with Duterte before their scheduled inaugurations.

“Hindi ho kami nakonsulta sa schedule noong meeting. (We were not consulted on the schedule of the meeting),” said Georgina Hernandez, spokesperson of Robredo, adding that the newly elected VP had a previous engagement set in Japan on the day of the supposed meeting in Davao.

Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go was quoted as saying the two were supposed to meet, but Robredo had backed out.

“So hindi hard to get. Pumayag eh. (So he is not hard to get. He agreed),” said Go as he referred to Duterte, who was according to Robredo was reportedly hard to get.

Hernandez, however, disowned such statement from Robredo.

PING: GIVE LENI A JOB

Meanwhile, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson sought yesterday an appropriate government position for Robredo under the Duterte administration.

“It would be better if she’s given a post that can make use of her talent and motivation to help President Duterte’s administration fulfill their promise to the people. I have no doubt that VP Leni’s heart is in the right place in this regard,” Lacson said.

If given a job to do, Robredo could boost the efforts of the new President to fulfill his promise to the people, Lacson said.

Earlier reports indicated Robredo is planning to pursue anti-poverty and pro-women advocacies as Vice President, even if she has not been given a Cabinet post. (With reports from Elena L. Aben, PNA, and Mario B. Casayuran)

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duterte 5:51 AM