Robredo to attend Cabinet meetings only if invited by Malacañang

Despite her recent appointment as co-chair of the Interagency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD), Vice President Leni Robredo on Saturday said she would only attend Cabinet meetings if invited by Malacañang.

"Kapag inimbitahan ako, pupunta ako, pero without the invitation, hindi ako pupunta. Kasi kung naaalala naman natin noong 2016, ayaw akong pa-attend-in, so baka maging istorbo pa ako doon," Robredo told reporters at the 14th Indo-Pacific Conference of the Theosophical Society in Quezon City.

"Sa akin naman, hindi mahalaga iyong designation, kung ano talaga—kung Cabinet official ba. Iyong pinakamahalaga sa akin, maging cooperative lang iyong mga agencies, marami tayong magagawa."

VP Leni Robredo delivers her speech at the 14th Indo-Pacific Conference of the Theosophical Society. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/lY2I6l1YWf

— Jamil Santos (@Jamil_Santos02) November 9, 2019

Robredo used to be a part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s cabinet as chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).

Her stint in the Cabinet, however, was short-lived, after she was banned from attending Cabinet meetings in December 2016 when Duterte accused the Liberal Party (LP), which she chairs, of plotting his ouster.

Robredo had denied involvement in an ouster plot, pointing out that such a move was not good for the country.

Meanwhile, the Vice President revealed she would be meeting with US Embassy officials, United Nations officers, and multisectoral groups next week to discuss the country's illegal drug problem.

"Iyong sa akin lang, kailangan kong pakinggan lahat. Hindi puwedeng fini-filter iyong information, kasi gusto nating seryosohin iyong papapuntahan nito. Tingin ko mas magiging effective iyong campaign kung nararamdaman ng tao na kabahagi sila ng kampanya," explained Robredo. — DVM, GMA News