Robredo, Taguiwalo won’t quit Cabinet posts

They serve at the pleasure of the President.

This was the statement given by Vice President Leni Robredo to the media yesterday when asked to comment on the call of former senator Rene Saguisag for government officials opposing the burial of dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the heroes’ cemetery to quit their posts in the Duterte Cabinet.

“It’s up to the President (to retain or remove us),” said Robredo, who worked as a lawyer for the rural and urban poor.

Robredo was appointed by President Duterte as chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.

Robredo has repeatedly said Duterte knows and respects her view on the matter of the Marcos burial as well as on other issues.

Other Cabinet members who oppose the burial of the dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) are Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo and Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano.

Robredo, who defeated the late dictator ’ s son and namesake in the May 9 vice presidential race, staunchly opposed a hero’s burial for the strongman.

In a statement last week, the Vice President said the sneaky burial of the dictator at the LNMB was “like a thief in the night.”

She also slammed the Marcos family for “deliberately” hiding information of the dictator’s burial at the LNMB.

“He is no hero. If he were, obviously his family would not have to hide his burial like a shameful criminal deed,” she said.

Taguiwalo and Mariano, who are both victims of martial law, said they would not resign despite their strong opposition to Duterte’s decision to allow the burial of the dictator at the LNMB because they have “compelling reasons” to stay in the Cabinet.

“I am one with the Filipino people protesting the sudden and sneaky Marcos burial at LNMB. I have said it before and I will say it again, Marcos is not and can never be a hero,” said Taguiwalo.

“Before I was sworn in as a member of his Cabinet, President Duterte was aware of our differences in some issues, including the Marcos burial. Still, he appointed me to be part of his official family.

“I accepted the post in the Duterte government because the Left finds common grounds on pursuing talks for just and lasting peace, prioritizing social services and the needs of the poor, including ending labor contractualization and in forging an independent foreign policy. There are compelling reasons for me to remain as member of the Duterte administration,” she explained.

For Mariano, the “equally important issues” are the welfare of poor farmers, which Duterte promised to address. –