MANILA - (UPDATED) Vice President Leni Robredo was finally able to personally express her support for President Rodrigo Duterte Monday, weeks after the public saw seemingly cold ties between the Philippines' top leaders.
"It was a very cordial meeting. I told him that I was just there to personally convey my message of support, that he has my full support. I was telling him that I owe it to the Filipino people to back him up," Robredo told ANC's Talkback with Tina Palma Monday nighy.
Robredo said Duterte was equally cordial.
"His success will be the success of the entire country and he was very warm. He was very accommodating," she said.
Robredo bared that Duterte also had plans to set up the meeting.
"He was telling me naunahan mo lang ako. I was really planning to invite you over," added Robredo.
FUTURE PLANS
Monday's meeting will definitely be not the last, as Duterte had invited Robredo to regular meetings to talk about the country, the vice president said.
"Sabi niya nga, gawin kong mas regular 'yung aking pagbisita para alam ko naman 'yung kung anong nangyayari. Parang sinabi niya yata sa akin na mas mabuti na 'yung nalalaman niyang information about the country's situation, alam ko din. Kaya nagpasalamat ako," she said, adding that she has already left her contact number with Duterte's staff.
She said Duterte had not offered her any job yet but she told him her visit to Malacanang was to extend support and not to seek a position.
"Wala pa naman formal offer, pero I told him na wala ako dun to ask for work. Nandoon ako to assure him of my support...Sinabi niya, patuloy tayong magusap," Robredo added.
Earlier, a video released by RTVM showed the President's special assistant, Bong Go, escorting Robredo inside Malacanang where she met with Duterte.
The two shook hands before being seated for a chat.
By the end of their meeting, Duterte walked Robredo to her car.
[A] UPDATE: VP Leni pays a courtesy visit to Pres.@RRD_Davao today pic.twitter.com/BnaimAwdfm
Last Friday, Duterte and Robredo met for the first time at Camp Aguinaldo for the turnover ceremonies of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Duterte, the country's first septuagenarian president, acknowledged Robredo's presence and seemed pleased to meet the former congresswoman.
"This is my first time to meet you personally, ma'am. I would have preferred to be seated beside you but andiyan si Defense [Secretary Delfin Lorenzana] eh," he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Duterte was also seen offering a bottle of coconut water to Robredo and shaking hands with her.
Robredo ran for VP under the Liberal Party banner, defeating Duterte's running mate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.
Duterte and Robredo were supposed to meet before the inauguration but the then-Vice President-elect's Japan trip supposedly got in the way, according to Duterte's aide de camp Bong Go.
Robredo was not invited to Duterte's inaugural ceremony at the Palace.
In May, Duterte said he would not appoint Robredo to a Cabinet position as he did not want his "friend" Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to get hurt.
