Leni on Cabinet post under Duterte: I don't have a right to demand

Incoming vice president Leni Robredo said it is up to Rodrigo Duterte to decide what role he would give to her under his administration.

“Ang sa akin kasi, iyong Cabinet portfolio, palagay ko wala naman akong karapatang mag-demand sa kanya. Kung tatanungin ako ng preference, sasabihin ko. Pero iyong authority na mag-appoint o magbigay sa akin ng karagdagang trabaho, sole authority iyon ng Pangulo.  Kahit ano ang pagdesisyunan niya, irerespeto natin,” she told reporters on Saturday.

The Camarines Sur lawmaker has not expressed preference for any Cabinet post although she has said in the past that she wants to focus on streamlining the government's anti-poverty programs if elected vice president.

Robredo said she would find a way to  meet Rodrigo Duterte to personally express her support for the next administration.  

She plans to do this after their proclamation in Congress, an event Duterte said he would snub for being "corny."

"Siguro after Monday, kung matuloy ang proklamasyon namin sa Monday, ako ang maghahanap ng paraan, at least maka-pay lang ng courtesy visit para i-assure lang siya na makakaasa siya sa aking suporta," she told reporters in Naga City.

Robredo, who ran under the administration Liberal Party, maintained that supporting Duterte is her obligation as a Filipino.

“Nararapat lang na i-aassure ko siya na he has my 100 percent support and cooperation. Hindi obligasyon lamang kay Pangulong Duterte, pero obligasyon sa taumbayan na iyong ’pag kaming dalawa ay magkasundo ay makikinabang lamang noon ay ang ating mga kababayan," she said. --Virgil Lopez/JST, GMA News