Pressure building up on Robredo to run as Roxas VP – solon

THE pressure is being cranked up on Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo by her Liberal partymates who are urging her to be Interior Secretary Mar Roxas’ running mate, a congressman said on Tuesday.

In a press briefing, Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe said the pressure has even reached Robredo’s two daughters who did not even want their mother to run for the second highest position of the land.

“Si Leni kaklase ko ’yan. I can personally tell na si Leni nai-stress dito sa pagpatakbo sa kanya bilang Pangalawang-Pangulo,” Batocabe said.

Batocabe said Robredo did not even want to run and was even scared of the Vice President position.

“Actually ayaw naman talaga niya, natatakot siya because of the position. Hindi man lang niya kinu-consider na maging Pangalawang-Pangulo and talagang sa totoo lang daw ang sabi niya sa akin nai-stress sila, nai-stress pati ang mga bata na pinipilit siyang maging Vice-President,” Batocabe said.

Batocabe said Robredo is feeling the stress because she did not want to be forced to say yes to the offer.

“Nai-stress out siya kasi para ang nangyayari, mapipilitan siyang um-oo,” he said.

Robredo is being eyed as the running mate of Roxas, after the top choice Senator Grace Poe remains elusive even if Roxas himself is courting her as his vice president.

Robredo has yet to comment on the matter.

In the same press briefing, Liberal Party (LP) member Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali said Robredo is willing to give way for Poe if the latter decides to run with Roxas.

He said Robredo is a “good soldier” and is not likely to give in to the pressure on her to run for vice president.

“Leni is also prepared to give way to Grace if and when she decides to be part of us. In fact, Leni has said she is not prepared,” said Umali, the brother of LP Treasurer Alfonso Umali.

“She’s a good soldier. She will answer to the call of the times,” he added.

Robredo is the wife of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, who died in an airplane crash in the waters off Masbate City on Aug. 18, 2012. The Robredo family is commemorating Jesse’s third death anniversary Tuesday.

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