“Hello ma’am Leni”: President Duterte Offered Leni Robredo a Cabinet Position via Phone Call

08 Jul “Hello ma’am Leni”: President Duterte Offered Leni Robredo a Cabinet Position via Phone Call

On Thursday, July 7, during a taping, President Rodrigo Duterte was asked by the reporter Rocky Ignacio who is working for the government-owned PTV-4 if the President would be giving Robredo a Cabinet post.

It has been almost a month now since Duterte started his appointments in various departments, but at last Vice President Leni Robredo has been offered a post to become the chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.

But what is unconventional in Duterte’s offer to Robredo is that he had done this via phone call. After Ignacio asked Duterte, a phone call has been made to call Robredo, and then the offer has been made.

Here’s the transcript of the conversation:

(He talks to Vice President Robredo on the phone.)

Ma’am Leni…. It is afternoon pa pala. Good afternoon. Na’ndito ako sa opisina ngayon. Tinatanong ako ni Rocky Ignacio sa Malacañang Press kung bibigyan ko raw kayo ng p’westo sa Gabinete. ‘Yan ang tanong niya. P’wede kong sagutin? (Vice President Robredo answers.)

Ah, tinanong ka na? (Vice President responds.)

O, kasi panay kasi ang ano…. Nahihiya na ako, Ma’am, eh. Nakikinig ang buong Cabinet, Ma’am, pati ’yung… (The Vice President explains.)

O, kasi gusto ko…. Alam mo, Ma’am, kasi, tinawagan kita para mahinto na itong tanong-tanong. (The Vice President responds.)

Kaya nga eh, para…. Do not be apologetic, but gusto ko na ’tong…tanong nang tanong, tanong nang tanong….P’wede ka [sa] Housing, Ma’am? Can you be the housing secretary? (Vice President responds.)

Tanggapin mo, Ma’am? (Vice President responds.)

Yes… (Vice President responds.)

’Wag na, Ma’am, kunin mo na lang ano. The Executive Secretary will hand you the appointment [papers]. (Vice President responds.)

So, mahinto na ito, Ma’am…. Kasi tatanggapin mo, Ma’am, kaya? (Vice President responds.)

Sige, Ma’am. So that will be on time with the next Cabinet meeting, and even on security matters, para you’d be kept abreast of what is happening to our country. Just for you to know.

Robredo did not reject Duterte’s offer, she said, “Mas mapaglilingkuran natin ang ating mga kababayang walang tahanan, at maipagpapatuloy natin ang ating pangakong itulak ang kaunlaran at kaginhawaan para sa ating mga kapus palad na kababayan.”