Leni will have Mar, Frank, Sonny at her inauguration

Vice President-elect Leni Robredo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JILSON SECKLER TIU

Her key political allies will be by her side once again when Vice President-elect Leni Robredo takes her oath before two village captains on Thursday morning in New Manila, Quezon City.

Defeated presidential candidate Mar Roxas, outgoing Senate President Franklin Drilon and outgoing House Speaker Sonny Belmonte  will witness Robredo’s inauguration at the Quezon City Reception House.

Other VIP guests include celebrity Kris Aquino, youngest sister of President Aquino.

The main guests will be members of the Gerona and Robredo families, including the Vice President-elect’s mother Salvacion Gerona.

Otherwise, people from the fringes of society will be represented at Robredo’s oath-taking.

Marginalized sectors

Representatives from the sectors that Robredo has served throughout her career as a nongovernment organization lawyer and congresswoman will be present at the flag-raising ceremony and the multifaith prayer that will be part of the inaugural ceremonies, said Georgina Hernandez, Robredo’s spokesperson.

“They are from the women’s sector, the Bangsamoro, persons with disabilities and farmers’ groups. It was made sure that there would be representatives from the sectors that Vice President-elect Robredo has served,” Hernandez said.

Robredo will take her oath as the country’s 14th Vice President before village chairs Rolando Coner and Regina Celeste San Miguel.

Coner is the barangay captain of Punta Tarawal, a fishing community that is described as the “smallest, farthest and poorest barangay” in the third district of Camarines Sur.

10-minute speech

San Miguel is the head of Barangay Marina, where the QC Reception House is located. Robredo has chosen to hold office there.

Hernandez said Robredo’s speech would be 10 minutes long.

The new Vice President would deliver it in Filipino, highlighting the need for unity, moving forward from the elections, and focus on public service, Hernandez said.

Robredo’s youngest daughter, Jillian, will hold the Bible during the oath-taking. Her older daughters, Aika and Tricia, will also be onstage.

The Robredo women will all wear short, ecru-themed Filipiniana dresses.

Hernandez said it was unclear if outgoing President Aquino would attend the after-inaugural party for Robredo and her supporters at Quezon Memorial Circle in the afternoon.