She was fired, says Alvarez

Lawmakers led by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said yesterday Vice President Leni Robredo was forced to quit as a member of the Cabinet.

“Considering the situation, I think she was fired,” Alvarez said.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Malacañang’s asking Robredo not to attend Cabinet meetings anymore was a “not-too-subtle way of telling her she’s not welcome to be part of the official family.”

Lacson said the issue must be clarified before the public.

Sen. Francis Escudero said resignation is a voluntary act that is “personal to the person resigning.”

“I respect her decision, but I cannot help but be saddened by the fact that this early, it would seem that the Duterte government will be in for a rough political (time) in 2017, which in turn will inevitably have an effect on our economy and ability to do what needs to be done,” Escudero said.

Robredo’s Liberal Party ally, Dinagat Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, supported Robredo’s move to resign.

“I fully support her decision to resign from the Cabinet. This is yet another proof of her consistency with the principles she has shown long before being elected into public office,” Bag-ao said.

Another party mate, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat, said it is about time the LP of former president Benigno Aquino III close ranks and form the country’s real opposition bloc.

“We are saddened by this latest development. We believe the Vice President should have been treated with greater respect. This rift would not have happened if the administration accorded the Vice President the respect and recognition she deserves,” Sen. Francisco Pangilinan

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, however, said the matter must be clarified before the public.

He said Malacañang’s asking Robredo not to attend Cabinet meetings anymore was a “not-too-subtle way of telling her she’s not welcome to be part of the official family.”

On the other hand, Sen. Antonio Trillanes said Robredo’s resignation was bound to happen and “I’m glad it happened sooner than later.”

“Otherwise, she would have been tainted by the Duterte administration’s politics of death, divisiveness, deceit and impunity,” Trillanes said.