Unlikely for Duterte, Robredo to work together again — Palace

Malacañang on Thursday said it will be unlikely for President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo to work together again.

This comes after Duterte lashed out at Robredo on Tuesday night, accusing her of leading a campaign to discredit him in light of the calamity due to the onslaught of powerful typhoons—a charge the Vice President strongly denied.

“Siguro hindi na po dahil binigyan na ng dalawang pagkakataon ng Presidente si VP Leni,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told a news conference.

“Despite the two opportunities, talagang VP Leni listened to her advisers and decided to become opposition, if not obstructionist,” he said.

Robredo was Duterte's housing chief for five months before parting ways with the administration in December 2016 after being barred by the President from attending Cabinet meetings. 

That came after she issued statements critical of the administration’s policies, including the burial of the late President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

The Vice President then served as co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs, a post she held for only less than three weeks after the President fired her over supposed missteps, including talking to foreign entities critical of the anti-narcotics campaign.

Duterte had appointed her to the post due to her criticism of his war on drugs, then claimed she had "made an asshole of herself" in the job, while one of his allies criticized her for not killing any drug lords during her 19 days on the job.

“Two appointments, it didn’t work; I don’t think we need a third one,” Roque said.

The president and vice president are elected separately in the Philippines, making it possible for the two highest public officials to belong to rival political parties just like in the case of Duterte and Robredo. — BM, GMA News