‘Not my problem’: Robredo dismisses Duterte threat to make presidential run a nightmare

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday brushed off President Rodrigo Duterte’s earlier threat that he will make her presidential run a “nightmare.”

“Hindi ko na yun problema. Hindi ko na yun problema kasi mas marami namang importanteng bagay na kailangang tutukan,” Robredo said in a press conference when sought for comment on Duterte’s threat.

“Ako suggestion ko, pandemic na lang tutukan kasi yun naman yung pinaka problema natin,” she added.

Last November 2020, Duterte threatened to get in the way of Vice President Leni Robredo if she decides to seek the presidency in 2022.

Robredo apparently gave this no thought, saying on Thursday that she has wholeheartedly accepted the challenge when she decided to file her candidacy for president.

The opposition leader noted that deciding late about her political plans was not a big factor.

“Naniniwala ako na hindi naman siya paunahan. In fact, all of my runs, laging last-minute ako nag-decide. So hindi siya para sa akin, di siya mahalagang factor,” Robredo said.

Her vice-presidential running mate, Senator Francis Pangilinan, also weighed in on the timing of Robredo’s announcement.

“Conventional wisdom says you have to declare early so that you ensure that your voters, supporters will mobilize and prepare,” he said.

“Pero hindi ibig sabihin na malapit na sa deadline lang nag-decide, e malaking hurdle. In fact, the contrary to the last two presidential elections, the contrary is true, yung mga huling nagdeklara, yun pa ang nanalo,” the senator added.

EDV