Duterte’s deputy quits cabinet
"From the beginning the president and I had major differences in principles and values." Leni Robredo, Philippines vicepressident
PHILIPPINES: The vicepresident of the Philippines has resigned from the cabinet after falling out with President Duterte, whom she accused of plotting against her.
Leni Robredo said she intended to remain in her elected post of vice-president but walked out of her cabinet job as minister of housing.
She told of a conspiracy to force her from the vicepresidency - a position elected separately from the presidency, which sometimes brings together individuals with opposing political views.
‘‘From the beginning the president and I had major differences in principles and values,’’ Robredo, 52, a former human rights lawyer, said.
‘‘We had hoped this day would not come,’’ she said.
‘‘I had been warned of a plot to steal the vicepresidency.
‘‘I have chosen to ignore this and focus on the job. But the events of recent days indicate that this plot is being set into motion.’’
Robredo has spoken out against the president’s war on drugs, which has resulted in the summary killings of thousands of alleged dealers and addicts.
She opposes moves to reinstate capital punishment and was against the reburial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the Heroes’ Cemetery, Manila.
She has objected to Duterte’s plans to lower the age of criminal liability, to his crude remarks about women, and to a NZ$535 million cut in the budget of the housing department.
In a final blow she received a text message saying she could no longer attend cabinet meetings.
‘‘This makes it impossible for me to perform my duties. Hence, I am tendering my resignation. I will not allow the vice-presidency to be stolen. I will not allow the will of the people to be thwarted.’’
Robredo did not give details of the alleged plot but hinted it involved the family of Marcos, who was driven into exile by an uprising in 1986.
His son, Ferdinand ‘‘Bongbong’’ Marcos Jr, came second in the vicepresidential election and supports Duterte.
‘‘We have fought this battle before and won,’’ Robredo said.
‘‘We will never let anyone revise our history and twist it to turn evil into good.’’
On Saturday Duterte spoke to Donald Trump. He said that the United States presidentelect supported his programme of extra-judicial killings. - The Times