By Hader Glang
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (AA) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has accepted the resignation of his vice president from her cabinet post, citing policy differences.
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar quoted the president as saying Monday: "It is with a heavy heart that I accept the resignation of Vice President [Leni] Robredo."
On Sunday, Robredo resigned as the cabinet secretary of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, ending a four-month stint in Duterte's administration and official family.
She told a reporter in Manila that she was resigning after she was told to “desist from attending all Cabinet meetings.”
In a statement, Robredo said the request had made it impossible for her to perform her duties as the housing chairperson
“I will not allow the will of the people to be thwarted. I will continue to serve the Filipino family and fulfil their dream for a better life,” she said.
Robredo -- who hails from the Liberal Party of Duterte’s predecessor -- has criticized Duterte’s bloody campaign against illegal drugs which has left more than 2,000 dead in police operations according to national police figures, and his decision to allow the burial of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the country’s heroes’ cemetery.
She defeated the late strongman’s son, former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., in the May 9 vote for the vice presidency by a narrow margin -- resulting in Marcos’ protesting of her proclamation before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.
According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Duterte referred to the protest while visiting China in October when he said “if [Bongbong] wins in his protest, he could be our vice president”.