Giving VP Leni a Cabinet post is President’s call —Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte will have the final say on whether Vice President Leni Robredo will have a Cabinet post, Malacañang reiterated Sunday.

Pressed on whether Duterte's decision not to appoint Robredo was final, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on dzRB radio said: “...Prerogative po ng Presidente ... kung bibigyan ang Bise Presidente ng Cabinet post.”

Duterte has been non-committal about appointing Robredo to a Cabinet position, saying he does not want to hurt the feelings of his friend, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Marcos lost to Robredo by over 200,000 votes. The senator has filed a poll protest questioning her victory.

On Saturday, the Vice President said she no longer expects to be given a Cabinet post by Duterte even after their “cordial” first meeting during the change of command of the military leadership in Camp Aguinaldo last July 1.

She even hinted that she may no longer need a Cabinet post to push her pro-poor advocacy.

Although Duterte and Robredo only met for the first time last week, Andanar said the two officials obviously appear to be “very warm” towards each other based on photos and videos of their brief encounter. — Xianne Arcangel/LBG, GMA News