MAY 31, 2016

NR # 4217B

I have no right to demand: Robredo

Vice President-elect and current Representative of the 3 rd District of Camarines Sur,
Maria Leonor Gerona-Robredo today said President-elect Rodrigo Roa Duterte has no
obligation to appoint her as a member of his cabinet.
I fully understand the circumstances. He has no obligation to appoint me. I have
no right to demand, Robredo stressed before members of media following her official
proclamation by Congress in joint session at the House of Representatives Plenary Hall
late this afternoon.
Atty. Romulo Macalintal, at the instance of the Vice-President-elect -- being her
legal counsel during the Congressional canvassing of votes -- answered media inquiries
related to accusations of alleged election cheating.
Atty. Macalintal, speaking for Robredo, dismissed the reported allegations by a
whistleblower as just impossible.
If I were Mr. Marcos hindi na ako magpa-file ng protest. Dapat pag-isipan niyang
mabuti, lalo na ang basis ng protest, Atty. Makalintal said, adding that the allegations are
just figments of the whistleblowers wild imaginationits just impossible. Huwag
kayong maniwala!
On the other hand, Vice-President elect Robredo said she is preparing for a
transition meeting with the Office of the Vice-President to know the actual situation of the
said office in terms of programs and other related functions.
One of the concerns she raised is the location of the office at the Coconut Palace
where, she noted, the OVP is paying a monthly rent of a little less than P500,000.00.
We will see how we can avoid paying that amount so we can instead spend it on
programs that address the needs of the people, she stressed, citing the possibility of
spending the money saved in establishing satellite offices to better serve the people.
She however, said that she is studying all possible options designed to save public
funds for better use.
Robredo, however, emphasized that she will extend all the cooperation to Presidentelect Duterte for the sake of the Filipino people.
We are all here to serve the Filipino people, she declared. (30) dpt