MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo has announced that she will resign as housing secretary on Monday due to disagreements with President Rodrigo Duterte and an alleged plot to remove her from office.
"I had been warned of a plot to steal the Vice Presidency. Then, we received a text message last Saturday from Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco, Jr., relaying the President’s instruction through Bong Go for me 'to desist from attending all Cabinet meetings starting this Monday, December 5.' This is the last straw, because it makes it impossible for me to perform my duties. Hence, I am tendering my resignation from the Cabinet on Monday, December 5, 2016," Robredo said in a statement on Sunday.
Robredo, however, stressed that she would "not allow the Vice Presidency to be stolen" from her.
The vice president noted that she would still continue to support the positive initiatives of the government and oppose those that are "inimical to the people’s interest."
General elections were held in the Philippines in May. Duterte, who served as mayor of Davao City for more than 22 years, won the presidential election with 16.6 million votes. Duterte's main rival, Robredo gained 14.4 million of votes and was appointed vice president.
She became the chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) in July.
