President Duterte Rejects Vice President Leni Robredo As New DSWD Chief

President Rodrigo Duterte shot down the possibility of having Vice President Leni Robredo take over the position of Social Welfare secretary after it was vacated with the recent rejection of Judy Taguiwalo by the powerful Commission on Appointments.

Asked by reporters on the possibility of having Robredo, the former housing secretary, to take over the Social Welfare portfolio, the President on Monday, August 21, responded with a resounding “no” on the suggestion.

The President did not clarify.

President Duterte, however, said that he had asked an incumbent senator once if “she” could be the next DSWD chief.

Furthermore, the President offered in jest the position of DSWD secretary to popular ABS-CBN broadcaster Doris Bigornia – who were among the reporters present during the roundtable held at Malacañang Park, a few steps from his Bahay Pagbabago home at the Pasig riverbanks.

The President said he will replace Taguiwalo with someone who will “avoid corruption” and “work sincerely” for the post.

Robredo’s name floated as one of the possible contenders for DSWD chief after Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson included her in an online poll, which the Vice President topped.

Uson later on accused the Vice President of employing trolls to win the online poll.

President Duterte and Robredo had a falling out after the Vice President was disallowed to attend Cabinet meetings, following her criticisms over the Presidnet’s bloody drug war.

Source: The Manila Standard