Robredo Not Invited to Attend Duterte’s Birthday Party

President Rodrigo Duterte turns 73 today, March 28. But because it is Holy Week, the president is set to have a simple birthday party celebration in his home on Easter Sunday, April 1. As expected, his children, some of his cabinet members and close friends will attend. Nevertheless, Vice President Leni Robredo is not invited to the said event.

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“I can confirm that President Duterte will have a simple birthday party on Sunday in his home in Davao City. But being a simple man as he is, there is no invitation card and we welcomes everybody in the government, except for Vice President Leni Robredo.” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement, Wednesday, March 28.

“The president also urged visitors not to give birthday gifts for him. Instead, he prefers the money to be given in charity or to help the poor, especially young children.” He added, without saying why the vice president is not invited. Nevertheless, we all know that President Duterte and VP Robredo are not really good friends since the elections.

Despite belong to the Liberal Party (LP), President Duterte appointed VP Robredo as head of the government's Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), a month after they took oath. But in December 2016, Robredo resigned from her cabinet post, saying she had been barred from attending Cabinet meetings.

Robredo, who is also facing an electoral protest from former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., is a vocal critic of President Duterte. Besides condemning the alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) related to war on drugs, the vice president also criticized the allowing of the hero’s burial of the late president Ferdinand Marcos.

Last Tuesday, VP Robredo called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) for labeling people opposed to the administration's positions and policies as drug protectors. In his latest statement, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II accused Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña of allegedly being involved in the illegal drugs trade in the Visayas region.



Meanwhile, besides Roque and Duterte’s family, expected to come to Duterte’s birthday celebration includes Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, and Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, among others.

Contributed by Renato Pasayao