Robredo: VPs should be barred from seeking higher office after term

Liberal Party Vice Presidential bet Leni Robredo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON

To prevent vice presidents from using their positions for their own political mileage, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo hopes a law preventing vice presidents from seeking a presidential post would be created.

“Sana mayroon na lang tayong batas o kasulatan na ang vice president sa susunod na halalan hindi tatakbo para maging pangulo,” Robredo told DZBB radio anchor Mike Enriquez in an interview on Thursday.

(I hope we have a law or agreement that would bar a vice president from running for president in the following elections.)

“Alam mo, napakalaking temptation kasi, Mike, na kung gusto mong tumakbo bilang pangulo, iyong buong taon mo gagamitin mo na lang sa pamumulitika,” she continued.

(You know, Mike, it really is a big temptation that if you want to run for president, you just might use your entire term politicking.)

READ: I won’t be scheming VP–Leni Robredo

If Robredo wins in the general elections in May, she would redefine the role of the country’s vice president by spending more time with poverty-stricken communities to push for rural development.

To avoid her immersion with the poor to be misconstrued as politicking, Robredo said she would make a declaration that she will not seek the presidency after her term.

“Iyong sa akin sayang eh, sayang kasi parang ito ‘yung driving force mo sa pag-iikot, iba rin iyong iba iyong motivation eh. Kung ang motivation mo trabaho talaga, ibang klase ‘yung pag-iikot pero kung motivation mo eh para maging mas popular ka, iba din ang pag-iikot,” she said.

(I just don’t want the duty of the vice president to go to waste because of misplaced motivation. If you are motivated by your interest to do your job, it will reflect in how you spend time with the people. But if your intent is to gain popularity, it will also show.)

Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas’ running mate said being a politician should not be about being a “problem solver.”

“You should also be an inspirational guide,” she said.

Robredo’s awareness ratings recently improved from 1 percent to 17 percent. From being the last among the six vice presidential contenders, she now ranks third according to surveys. IDL

READ: Leni Robredo ‘running scared’ despite surge in survey