Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo’s principles and legislative record have been aligned with the vision of both President Benigno Aquino III and Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, according to the Malacañang. CDN PHOTO
Despite being a neophyte lawmaker, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo has shown that she is qualified to be the administration coalition’s vice presidential bet in the 2016 elections, according to a Malacañang Palace official.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte has said Robredo’s principles and legislative record are “aligned” with the vision of both President Benigno Aquino III and Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.
“’Yung prinsipyo po ni Congresswoman Robredo ay nahahalata naman pong naka-align sa mga prinsipyo ng Pangulo, sa mga prinsipyo ni Secretary Mar Roxas, at naka-align din po siya doon sa mga gusto pang itulak ‘nung dalawa. It shouldn’t be a surprise also that si Congresswoman Leni fits into what the President wants to be continued,” Valte told reporters on Friday.
“She has a very good head on her shoulders. She is also a lawyer at wala hong bahid ang record. Even her legislative record, if you look at the bills that she has filed in Congress in her short—it’s her first—term, makikita niyo po na transparency and accountability ’yung push ni Cong. Leni. We have worked with her on a number of initiatives,” she added.
A day after Senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero made their 2016 tandem official, Roxas on Friday morning formally asked Robredo to be his running mate in next year’s polls.
READ: Roxas moves on from Poe, asks Leni Robredo to be his VP | Roxas, Robredo team up in prayer, drive in Naga
Valte said Robredo’s advocacy for transparency in government makes her qualified to continue the administration’s “daang matuwid (straight path)” reform agenda.
“She is also a proponent of FOI (Freedom of Information), she is also a proponent of open government, and also there is what you call the full disclosure policy. She proposed a bill to be able to require local governments to publish online all their financial documents, not just budget proposals but disbursements. So you see from her work also that is what she wants to integrate into the system,” she added.
Asked if the President would exert the same effort in wooing Robredo just like what he did with Poe, Valte said Aquino “believes in continuity and in finding the right people to push for that continuity.”
LP had wooed Poe to be Roxas’ running mate, but the senator officially declared a presidential bid on Wednesday.
Robredo, who had yet to decide on Roxas’ offer, said in previous interviews that she was not interested in running for vice president as the post was “too important” for a neophyte like her. She said she was seeking a reelection or a Senate post, but added that she might consider the vice presidency only if she was deemed “indispensable.”
On Thursday, the widow of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo posted a photo of her husband on Facebook with the caption: “Can I use a lifeline just for today?” Yuji Vincent Gonzales/RC
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