MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has not appointed Vice President Leni Robredo as a member of his cabinet but as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee Against Illegal Drugs (ICAD).

President Duterte clarified this in an exclusive interview with GMA News on Friday in Davao City.

“She is not a member of the cabinet. I have not appointed her as a cabinet member. You know why? Early on she was talking right and left that she would talk to this and talk to that. In the Cabinet meeting, we talk about what’s happening eh kung marinig n’yan d’yan tapos daldal niya sa labas,” President Duterte explained.

President Duterte also warned Robredo that he would remove her as a drug czar if will spill state secrets to foreign individuals or organizations she spoke to.

“There’s a limit to that. I hope that, a lawyer and she has the adviser that there are certain matters that should be kept with the government that classified matters cannot be shared. Once she does that, laugh out. I will fire her because you jeopardize the security of the state. For she cannot just ask anything from the military or the police the law enforcement kasi may mga bagay d’yan na hindi talaga dapat para sa publiko” President Duterte added.

Malacañang said several times that the President offered Robredo a drug czar with cabinet rank but Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo made it clear that unless the illegal drugs were on the agenda the vice president would not have to attend the cabinet meeting. (Marian Sinamban/IAMIGO/CNS)