Key post for Leni? Allies first – Duterte

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Incoming president Rodrigo Duterte said he would first try to find positions for his trusted people who helped him win the election before he could give anything to anybody, including incoming vice president Leni Robredo.

“It never crossed my mind that I will give Leni any position in the Cabinet,” Duterte said Saturday night.

“(There are) party guys loyal to me all along, and maybe who are also in a way, or who were for one reason or another a factor in my winning the presidency. I shouldn’t be looking beyond my borders yet,” he added.

Robredo was the running mate of Liberal Party standard bearer and former interior secretary Manuel Roxas II, a rival of Duterte.

During the campaign period, Robredo said she wants to coordinate and consolidate anti-poverty programs if elected vice president.

In past administrations, the vice president was always given a position in the Cabinet.

Duterte said he does not socialize that much and that he had a limited sphere of friends when he was still studying. He said that explains why he prefers to be surrounded with people he can trust.

“In the government, my acquaintances were my (brothers in the fraternity) and my childhood friends who are brilliant,” he said.

“I could not have selected from a larger portion of the population for the simple reason that my horizon or the dimension of my personality is limited – school dorm, friends, (fraternity) brothers, that’s all. The rest are from Davao,” he added.

When asked if he is implying that Robredo would not be appointed to the Cabinet, Duterte replied: “No. I’m trying to explain first my response or retort to accusations that I gave posts to my classmates and friends. That’s just a very stupid allegation.”

“Look, I’m not rich. I’m not from Forbes (Park) and I am not from Ateneo, La Salle or University of the Philippines. You don’t appoint somebody you don’t trust, but you have to also know the person or how long have you known the person to know enough his character,” he added.

Pressed if he and Robredo already talked, Duterte said: “Hindi nga! Hindi ko nga kilala yan eh, sa totoo lang (No! In fact, I don’t really know her).”

Duterte said that no meeting has been scheduled between him and Robredo.

“I said I am busy. Why put myself in an awkward position when I am not ready to offer anything to her?” he added.