Robredo denies role in ‘ouster plot,’ attending anti-Duterte rallies

Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday indicated that there was no basis for the alleged inconsistency between her membership in President Rodrigo Duterte's Cabinet and making public her own political views.

Contrary to Duterte's remarks, Robredo said she never attended demonstrations mounted against the President and his decisions, particularly the one allowing the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos' burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

In a statement, Robredo again denied any involvement or knowledge over an alleged plot to unseat the President.

"I am not aware of, much less am I involved in, any effort to 'oust' the President," Robredo said.

"Furthermore, I categorically deny joining rallies that called for the President's ouster," she added.

Robredo reiterated her non-involvement in ouster plots after Duterte in several interviews on Thursday said he found "incongruity" in the vice president attending his Cabinet meetings while also seeing her at rallies against him.

'Criticism is not conspiracy'

In her statement, Robredo asked Duterte and the people around him to stop seeing criticisms as "plots" to unseat him.

"Criticism is not conspiracy, and the administration is well advised to stop seeing 'plots' behind every unflattering news report, irate citizens' assembly, or angry Facebook post," Robredo said.

The Vice President said many of the criticisms hurled against Duterte "have come about as a reaction to his own actions and statements."

She said the issues included the Marcos burial, the spate of drug-related killings, Duterte's preference for the reimposition of the death penalty, and his supposed "retreat from our West Philippine Sea claims."

Robredo said the principle that citizens were free to express their opinions—even opposing views—was "a cornerstone of our free Republic."

Her spokesperson, Georgina Hernandez, added that the Vice President did not participate in rallies against the Marcos burial—a fulfillment of Duterte's campaign promise.

Duterte early during his term appointed Robredo chair of the House and Urban Development Coordinating Council.

He asked that she not attend Cabinet meetings starting early December, prompting her to resign.

"Ang problema, si Leni nakikita ko sa—hindi ko masabi 'wag—nakikita ko sa rally. Kilala mo ako, 'yung oust Duterte," Duterte told GMA News' Jessica Soho on Thursday.

"Ngayon, nakikita ko siya. Kinabukasan, o one week after, mag-Cabinet meeting kami. We face each other. I'm always courteous to everybody, I say, 'Ma'am, magandang umaga po'," Duterte said.

"Don't you think there's an incongruity there? Nasa harap kita, you owe my appointment from me, then nakikita kita demanding for my ouster, then you face me again tomorrow? Mukha yatang medyo... may nakita ka? Parang... Is it incongruity or awkwardness?" he added.

Before she resigned, Robredo denied funding the recent demonstrations.

Asked at the time if she planned to join the anti-Marcos protests, she said it may be best if politicians would not participate in rallies, to let the people themselves express their sentiments.

Robredo said that she attended a ceremony when the Bantayog ng mga Bayani honored "heroes and martyrs" who fought against Martial Law last Nov. 30—the same day that an anti-Marcos burial rally was held at the People Power Monument.

Robredo was invited there as guest of the family of the late Inquirer editor-in-chief Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc, one of the 19 honorees of Bantayog this year.

After her resignation from the Cabinet, the Vice President admitted that she would have wanted to join the protests, but chose not to because she was part of the President's official family.

After her exit from the Cabinet, Robredo said she was willing to be the "unifying force" for the many "discordant voices" of those who are critical of the administration.

However, she reiterated that this would not stop her support the "good" initiatives of the administration, acknowledging that Duterte had the mandate from the people. —NB, GMA News