Duterte says meeting Robredo was part of her VP responsibilities

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday said she met with her predecessor Leni Robredo as part of her task to visit former vice presidents, adding that she has no plans to enter political alliances with anyone.

According to Duterte, even before meeting with Robredo, she has already visited former Vice Presidents Teofisto Guingona Jr., Joseph Estrada, and Gloria Arroyo.

“Isa sa mga task na nilista para sa akin dito sa Office of the Vice President (OVP) is to visit former vice presidents doon sa mga residences nila,” said Duterte in a rare press conference.

(One of the tasks listed for me here at the Office of the Vice President is to visit former vice presidents at their residences.)

“Anong purpose ng pagbisita ko? Nagpapakilala ako sa kanila nagsasabi ako na ako ‘yung vice president at sinasabihan namin sila as former vice presidents na we owe it to them na kung may kailangan sila susuportahan namin sila ng OVP, and we invite them to lend us memorabilia para sa OVP museum,” she added.

(What is the purpose of my visit? I introduce myself to them as the new vice president and we tell them as former vice presidents, we owe it to them that if they need anything we will support them with OVP, and we invite them to lend us memorabilia for the OVP museum.)

However, Duterte refused to give any other details about her meeting with Robredo, including what they talked about.

When asked if she and Robredo tackled anything political during their meeting, Duterte responded: “Kung meron man dapat magsalita siguro dapat si Vice President Robredo ‘yon, kasi bahay niya ‘yon and siya binisita so napaka-assuming ko naman kung ako yung magkwento, ako na nga ‘yung bisita ako pa ‘yung madaldal.”

(If there is anyone who should talk about it, maybe it should be Vice President Robredo because it’s her house and I was the one who visited, so it would be very assuming on my part to talk when I was only the guest.)

No political alliances in the making

Meanwhile, Duterte in the same press conference dismissed rumors that she is attempting to build a political alliance with Robredo.

“Ang sinasabi ko nga noon I’m single and ready to mingle, pero right now hindi ako handa sumama kahit kanino man because kailangan ko muna ayusin at ipagtanggol ang OVP,” said Duterte.

(What I used to say before was that I’m single and ready to mingle, but right now I’m not ready to join anyone because I have to fix and defend the OVP first.)

“So nandoon tayo sa protect the OVP na isa sa mga, of course, duties ng VP (So we are focusing on protecting the OVP which is one of the duties of the VP),” she added.

Duterte met with Robredo in Naga City, Camarines Sur last Friday, Sept. 20 as the city was celebrating the Peñafrancia Festival.

In her statement, Robredo said it was Duterte who took the opportunity to visit her home while they were both in the city, stating that the conversation they had was purely personal.

“While she was in Naga City for the Peñafrancia Festival, VP Sara Duterte took the opportunity to visit me at my home. The conversation we had was personal and not political,” Robredo said.

READ: VP Sara Duterte visited Leni Robredo in Naga, Gutierrez confirms

Duterte then said that after her visit to Robredo, she is now planning to visit former Vice Presidents Noli de Castro and Jejomar Binay.