Robredo pays courtesy call on Duterte in Malacañang

Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday paid a closed-door courtesy call on President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang — a visit that she said is meant to assure him of her support.

A short clip of Robredo’s arrival was posted on the Facebook page of the Presidential Broadcast Staff Radio-Television Malacanang (RTVM).

Robredo, who was wearing a light blue dress under a beige blazer, was assisted by Duterte’s special assistant, Christopher "Bong" Go.

Duterte was heard offering Robredo a snack, which she refused.

It was the second meeting between Robredo and Duterte, who were inaugurated separately, since being elected into office following the May 9 elections. They met for the first time at Camp Aguinaldo on Friday during the change of command ceremonies of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Robredo, running mate of defeated presidential candidate Mar Roxas in the May 9 elections, took the AFP event as an opportunity to ask Duterte if  she can arrange for a courtesy visit with him "soon."

The visit was eventually scheduled for Monday at 3:30 p.m.

Palace: Pres. Duterte and VP Leni Robredo to meet 3:30 PM today | via @Joseph_Morong

— GMA News Breaking (@gmanewsbreaking) July 4, 2016

Vice President @lenirobredo is set to do a courtesy call to President @RRD_Davao at 3:30 PM in Malacañang.

— Georgina Hernandez (@OVPspox) July 4, 2016

"Courtesy call ito... I would want to personally assure him of my support," Robredo said in a chance interview on Monday morning.

She added: "Ano naman, when I told him last Friday, he was very open to it."

In a keynote speech delivered at the Tapatan Forum last week, Robredo reiterated this call for unity, a primary point she made during her inauguration. 

"Ako po bilang pangalawang pangulo, I believe that the number one responsibility now is to help rally everyone behind the new administration," Robredo said. "This administration deserves our support."

"Hindi naman po ito para kay President Duterte lamang pero para ito sa sambayanang Pilipinas," she added.

Duterte has yet to offer Robredo a Cabinet post, saying earlier that he does not want to hurt the feelings of his friend, Sen. Bongbong Marcos, whom Robredo defeated with a small margin in the May 9 vice presidential race. —KBK, GMA News