Sa panayam ng GMA News sa pangulo, sinabi nitong hindi miyembro ng Gabinete ang bise presidente.
Ayon sa pangulo, hindi niya itinalaga si Robredo sa Gabinete dahil maaaring may ilabas itong sensitibong impormasyon na pinag-usapan sa Cabinet meetings lalo’t marami itong pinupulong na grupo.
Sa text message sa reporters, sinabi rin ni Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo na hindi Cabinet-level ang posiyon ni Robredo.
“The post she was appointed to is not a Cabinet level. The discretion to appoint her as a member of the Cabinet, in addition to her appointment as the anti-illegal drug czar lies with the President,” ani Panelo.
Matatandaang una nang sinabi ni Panelo na Cabinet-rank ang drug czar post ni Robredo at welcome itong dumalo sa Cbinet meetings.
“It is! It is a Cabinet rank. In other words, she will be joining us at the Cabinet and she’s welcome,” ani Panelo.
Sa panayam din ng media sa Roman Catholic Cemetery sa Davao noong October 31, sinabi ng pangulo na gagawin niyang Cabinet member si Robredo sakaling maging drug czar ito.
“If I would take her in as the drug czar, I will have to first make her a Cabinet member. Then I will give her the marching orders and the specific functions. All in connection with drugs, hers,” ani Duterte.