Davao City — With their proclamation scheduled at mid-afternoon today, incoming President Rodrigo Roa Duterte gets the 100-percent support and cooperation of incoming vice president Leni Robredo whose appointment to a Cabinet post Duterte said he will give priority to over his friends.
Robredo said she “will find ways to at least pay a courtesy visit to assure him that he has my support” probably in Davao City. “For me, it is but right to assure him that he has my 100 percent support and cooperation. That is my obligation to the country, not only to President Duterte. This is our obligation to the people because if we work together, it is the people who would benefit,” she added.
Duterte resumed efforts to fill vacancies in his cabinet after he announced on Saturday that he has offered former national treasurer Leonor Briones the education portfolio and economist Benjamin Diokno a return to the Department of Budget Management. Both served in the administration of former President Joseph Estrada.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — Late into Saturday night, incoming President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is just teeing off with his latest statements to the press about his plans when he assumes the presidency. This early, he has marching orders to anointed Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jess Dureza (second from right) to get the peace talks with the communist rebels started. They are flanked by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano (left) and Senator-elect Manny Pacquiao. (Keith Bacongco)
He is also scheduled to announce tomorrow new appointments, particularly for the top posts in the Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and Land Transportation Office (LTO).
He only gave hints as to who would lead the DND, DOH DOST, saying that the next defense secretary “will be coming in from the United States, while the incoming secretaries of health, and science and technology would be career officers.
He also nixed speculations that he would appoint Dr. Romulo Busuego, head of the Davao Regional Hospital, as the next DOH secretary.
JIMENEZ STAYS AT DOT
He also said he was satisfied at how Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. “has been doing a splendid job” and might offer the post anew to him.
Duterte likewise said that “former military officers will most likely” head the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and Land Transportation Office (LTO).
He also reiterated that his offer for the Communist Party of the Philippines and National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF) to nominate the heads of the departments of agrarian reform and social welfare and development.
“The (CPP-NDF) will have a share of governance. But it cannot be a coalition government. I would be placing the entire government in jeopardy because of the strong resistance of the military and the police,” Duterte averred. As such, Duterte said what he could only assure was that his administration will be “an all-inclusive government when I am ready to concede a good number of positions (to the CPP-NDF).”
RAPPORT WITH ROBREDO
In a meeting with the media Saturday night at the Hotel Elena here, Duterte admitted that he does not know Robredo personally and has not yet considered what post to give her.
“I am more worried about where I would place the friends na nagkautang ako na loob (who I owe a debt of gratitude),” he said.
But he was quick to point out that he was not putting his friends first before the vice president, and said that he was merely prioritizing “the party (PDP-Laban) and those who were a factor in my winning the presidency.”
Besides, he pointed out, he has yet to talk to Robredo, and that he didn’t even know her personally.
“Di ko nga kilala yan (I don’t even know her),” Duterte said.
He acknowledged that it was only a matter of time before he and Robredo will be able to talk to each other.
“We are just waiting for an opportunity. It will come later,” he said.
And he has no plans of rushing any decision on what to offer Robredo because he was “still busy.”
“Why would I be in an awkward position when I am not ready to offer anything to her? We can talk of having good rapport in the meantime,” Duterte said.
Asked of the Cabinet position, Robredo said she would leave to Duterte the decision on what position would be given to her.
But Robredo said that she is comfortable with a position that deals with the poor and the marginalized, saying it is her expertise due to her wide experience of working for a non-government organization which provide free legal assistance to abused women, farmers, fishermen and other marginalized sector of the society.
PROCLAMATION AT 2 O’CLOCK
The National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) is all set to proclaim both Duterte and Robredo as the country’s next top leaders a few hours after they convene at 2 p.m. today at the Batasang Pambansa. “The joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives who did the actual canvassing will submit the report and this will be approved by the Senate and the House acting jointly as the NBOC,” Drilon said.
“I do not see any problem, within one hour’s time we will finish the proclamation. After an hour from convening, we will have a new president-elect and vice president elect,” the Senate leader said.
Duterte said he will not be attending the proclamation rites, asserting that he had not attended any of the previous proclamations when he won in this city as vice mayor, mayor and congressman in the past. Robredo will attend her proclamation, according to Drilon.
Both Drilon and election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said it is not mandatory for the election winner to be personally present in his proclamation.
Still, Drilon said that while there is no legal effect should Duterte refuse to appear, it is up to the mayor to decide whether or not he should attend.
“It is my hope that he attends the proclamation because that is the tradition.”
CHOOSING KKK
Duterte blasted critics over “KKK” which stands for Kababayan, Kaklase, Kasama, for choosing Davaoeños, former classmates at San Beda College of Law, and friends who supported him in his presidential campaign.
“Nandito na naman sila (Here they come again) sloganeering…kaibigan (friend)…no such thing,” he quipped.
For accusing him of choosing his former classmates, friends and supporters, Duterte said, “That’s a stupid allegation or an issue you raise…tingnan mo muna eh hindi kami mayaman hindi kami taga-Forbes (you look we are not rich we are not from the Forbes – referring to the posh community in Manila).”
Duterte said one should not appoint somebody “you do not trust… you have to know the person – know his character and his capacity…and his honesty,” he emphasized. (With reports from Aaron B. Recuenco, Hannah L. Torregoza, Leslie Ann G. Aquino, and PNA)