Expecting snub, Leni ‘relieved’ after encounter with ‘sincere’ Rody

WARM ENCOUNTER. Smiles, the offer of a cold drink and an invitation to visit “anytime” mark the first meeting between Vice President Leni Robredo and President Duterte during Friday’s change of command ceremony at Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. JOAN BONDOC

The country’s newly sworn-in top two officials met for the first time on Friday almost two months after being elected, and Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo was “relieved” that it was not as bad as she expected.

Robredo on Saturday said she was bracing for the worst during her first encounter with President Rodrigo Duterte at the military’s change of command ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“Ako, I was expecting for the worst na hindi niya ako papansinin. At alam mo iyon, parang nire-ready ko rin iyong sarili ko. Kaya noong pag-akyat niya pa lang sa stage na pagpalit ko sa kanya, agad naman na pinansin niya ako,” Robredo told reporters in an ambush interview in her hometown Naga.

“Actually iyong first niya atang sinabi sa akin, ‘At last nag-meet na tayo.’ Kaya sabi ko naman sa kanya, ‘Oo nga po, Mr. President.’ He was nice the entire time,” she said.

Contrary to her “apprehensions,” Robredo said she felt welcomed by the President, whom she called “very sincere.”

After shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries, Duterte in his speech acknowledged Robredo’s presence in the ceremonies and said he would have loved to be seated right beside her. For her part, the Vice President said she took the opportunity to set a courtesy call on Duterte, to which the President agreed.

“Ang sabi niya, ‘Actually may sinet na pero wala ka kasi noong sinet.’ Sabi ko, ‘Hindi po kasi ako nakunsulta noong date. I was out of the country. Sabi niya, ‘Anytime.’ Tingin ko naman very sincere, mabait naman siya sa akin. Kaya pagbalik ko sa opisina kahapon, iyon na ang ibinilin ko sa office. Mag-contact sa opisina ni Pangulong Duterte at makipag-set ng appointment soonest available time,” Robredo said, adding that she was hoping the appointment to be set next week.

The supposed distance between the two were fanned by speculations following their separate inaugurations on Thursday, a first in Philippine history.

A “noncommittal” Duterte also previously said there was “no compelling reason” for him to give Robredo a Cabinet position as he did not want to hurt the feelings of his friend, defeated vice presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The son and namesake of the late dictator lost to the widow of the late interior chief Jesse Robredo by over 200,000 votes in the May elections.

Asked about the photos of their first meeting where she was seen laughing, Robredo said she was just happy for the opportunity to be able to meet and set an appointment with Duterte, who she said cracked jokes during their encounter.

“Nagbibiro siya. Binibigay niya sa akin iyong iniinom niyang coco water. Actually parang relieved naman ako noong pagkikita namin kasi siyempre marami rin akong apprehensions na magkikita kami yesterday kasi while kilalang kilala ko siya, talagang kahit ako first time ko siyang nakita,” Robredo said.

“Pinapagalitan nga ako ng mga anak ko kasi parang tawa daw ako nang tawa. Sabi ko, siguro na-manifest lang iyong saya ko. Na-manifest lang siguro iyong saya ko na ang fears ko nang first meeting namin ay hindi naman nangyari at parang na-exceed niya iyong expectations na napakabait naman niya sa akin kahapon,” she added.

The Vice President said she was hoping that their first cordial encounter would be the start of a “harmonious” relationship with Duterte.

“Palagay ko para sa bansa naman, kailangan na iyong parang healthy lang ang magiging working relationship namin kasi after all, kami naman ang nanay at tatay ng bansa. Kaya after yesterday mas naging hopeful naman ako na bumuti,” Robredo said.

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