VICE President Leni Robredo is sworn in by President Duterte as the chairperson of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council. Her oath taking is witnessed by her three daughters, Aika, Tricia and Jillian Robredo. PHOTO FROM VP LENI ROBREDO’S OFFICE
Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday took her oath as chairman of the Housing and Urban Developing Coordinating Council (HUDCC) before President Duterte at Malacañang, with her youngest daughter pointing out another poignant coincidence in her parents’ journey as public servants.
The late Jesse Robredo and the Vice President took their respective oath of office as Cabinet members exactly six years apart.
Jillian Robredo posted on her Twitter account a photo of her late father, Jesse, taking his oath as Interior Secretary before then President Aquino on July 12, 2010, and her mother and Mr. Duterte on July 12, 2016.
Jillian and her older sisters, Aika and Tricia, accompanied their mother during her oath taking.
Serendipitous moments
The serendipitous moments in the lives of Jesse and Leni Robredo have not been lost on their family and supporters.
When her mother was declared winner in the vice presidential elections on May 27, Aika Robredo pointed out that it was the birthday of her father who would have turned 58 years old.
Jesse Robredo was killed in a plane crash off the waters of Masbate in August 2012, while serving as Interior secretary of the then Aquino administration.
When the Vice President was offered by Mr. Duterte to head the HUDCC on July 7, Robredo herself said that it was the same date that her husband was offered the post of Interior secretary in 2010.
Husband’s advocacy
Robredo also noted that housing was her husband’s “number one advocacy” while she had been defending urban poor communities as a nongovernment organization lawyer.
In a speech earlier that day, Robredo sought the help of the private sector in addressing the 1.4-million housing backlog.
After taking her oath, Robredo joined the Cabinet meeting called by Mr. Duterte after the Philippines’ victory in the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in its petition against China seeking to invalidate the latter’s so-called nine-dash line.
While at Malacañang, the Vice President had a chance meeting with Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa.
Robredo issued a statement expressing her concern over what she described as a “culture of vigilantism and violence” in the government’s antidrug campaign.
Robredo’s media team said the Vice President and De la Rosa simply exchanged pleasantries and did not have a meeting.