President Benigno Aquino III confirmed on Wednesday that he will be holding a series of meetings with Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo who is being courted by the Liberal Party to run as vice president in the 2016 elections.
“Wala pang tapos na usapan. Mag-uusap kami ulit, pero maganda ’yung parang clearing the air, ano. ’Yung expectation settings, lahat, nandoon nailagay; bakit kami pabor na siya ang maging vice president natin, et cetera,” Aquino said during an interview in Apayao.
(The talks have yet to be concluded. We will talk again but it’s good that we’re somewhat clearing the air. We have have laid down expectations and discussed why we are in favor of her becoming vice president.)
Administration bet and former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II has reportedly offered Robredo to be his running mate after Senate Grace Poe announced her presidential bid.
Aquino said he met with Robredo, together with Roxas and Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, on Tuesday.
The President compared Robredo with his mother, the late Corazon Aquino, who was a housewife before being thrust into the national limelight.
Robredo was encouraged to join Congress because of public clamor following the death of her husband, former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, in 2012.
“So medyo nakakagulat, nakakabigla at understandable, lalo na doon sa mga anak nila na kung tutuusin talagang nag-re-readjust pa rin sa buhay na wala ’yung kanilang ama,” Aquino explained, referring to Robredo’s children who have explicitly expressed their dismay at their mother’s decision to run for Congress.
(So it’s slightly surprising and understandably, especially for her children who are still adjusting to a life without their father.)
Aquino said Robredo has a very positive image among civil society and non-government organizations. He said the congresswoman cannot be mistaken for a traditional politician or “trapo.”
“Ang dami na niyang dinemonstrate na kahanga-hanga talaga,” he said.
Aquino pointed out that a Roxas-Robredo team would help expedite the “Daang Matuwid” or Straight Path campaign. Kristine Angeli Sabillo