Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday urged her supports to avoid bickering with her bashers as she called for unity behind the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
In her thanksgiving speech in Naga City, Robredo thanked her family and her supporters who came to her defense during the highly divisive campaign period.
“You were the ones who would fight for me when I was being attacked. I know this was your way of showing how much you loved me,” she said.
“But I have one request. Many had fought for me, but gone are the days when we would be fighting others. This is the time to support our new administration. This is a time to unite,” she added.
She called on her supporters to remain humble and magnanimous.
“Just ignore the bad words that we hear,” she said.
Duterte earlier said he will not be appointing Robredo to any Cabinet post, adding that he does not want to hurt his friend, former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has a pending electoral protest case to question Robredo’s win.
“There is no law which is a compelling reason for her to be a member of the Cabinet,” Duterte said.
Duterte and Robredo met for the first time on Friday in Camp Aguinaldo.
While the meeting was cordial, Robredo said she is no longer expecting any Cabinet position under the Duterte administration.
“I no longer expect to be given a Cabinet post. I am prepared for that possibility,” she said.
“It will just be a bonus for me. If none is given, I am ready,” Robredo added.
