Leni Robredo absent during gathering urging her VP run

Camarines Sur Rep. Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo has said she opted not to attend a show of force convincing her to run for vice president in the 2016 elections.

In an interview on Wednesday, Robredo said she did not attend the event at Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City led by the Kaya Natin! movement and Urban Poor Associates because “some of the organizers know how I feel about the entire thing.”

Robredo, however, said she was humbled that the movement was urging her to run alongside Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II under Liberal Party.

She said a vice presidential bid was not her priority, adding she’d rather run for reelection or the Senate.

“I am humbled by calls for me to run for vice president and I am grateful to even be considered alongside more experienced politicians. I am not eyeing the second highest political office in our country however. It is not among my options as of the moment,” Robredo said in a text message.

She also said there were other people more experienced than her, adding she still had a lot to learn about governance.

“There are persons who are more prepared and suited for the tough job, which requires much political maturity and thorough understanding of the responsibilities and intricacies of a high public office. I have yet to learn many things,” Robredo said.

“My priority now is ensuring that in the remaining 10 months of my term, the programs, interventions, policies, and reforms that I have initiated as representative of the third district of Camarines Sur will have concrete, measurable, and positive results,” she added.

Robredo is being eyed as vice president for Roxas, who has fared poorly in voters’ preference polls.

She is the wife of the late Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo who died in an airplane crash off Masbate City in August 2012.

Robredo ran for a congressional seat in 2013 and won, whipping the Villafuerte political dynasty which ruled the district for over 40 years. RC