President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday assured Vice President Leni Robredo that there is no plot to steal the vice presidency from her, despite his seeming closeness to her rival former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
"I will assure Leni and the rest of the Bicol region that you will have her until the very end of her term," Duterte told reporters Thursday.
"There is no such thing as removing the vice president," he added.
Robredo is a former congresswoman of Camarines Sur, one of the provinces of the Bicol region.
The President was reacting to Robredo's claim that there is a plot to steal her position following her getting pushed out of Duterte's inner circle, prompting her to resign as housing czar.
After hearing this statement, Robredo thanked the President.
"Tingin ko I would like to see it as a reassurance. Despite our many differences I would like to think the President and I have a very good relationship," he said during a forum on Thursday.
Duterte also said she does not have a quarrel with Robredo but that they just have different views on several issues, such as the war on drugs and the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
He also likened the rumored plot to steal the vice presidency to fears that he would declare martial law in the country.
"Kayo lang nagsasabi ng martial law diyan. There is no need for me to declare martial law," he said.
(You're the only ones talking about martial law. There is no need for me to declare martial law.)
The President, however, noted that he will not let up on his ongoing campaign against illegal drugs.
"You mess up with my country, I'll order your arrest," he said.
Rodrigo Duterte, Leni Robredo, vice presidency, politics, robredo, leni, duterte