‘Busy’ VP wants to be LP titular head only

Vice President Leni Robredo (NINO JESUS ORBETA/INQUIRER)

Vice President Leni Robredo does not want to be given a leadership post in the Liberal Party (LP) as she is busy adjusting to her new roles as the country’s second in command and housing chair.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Robredo said if she would be given a high position in the erstwhile ruling party, she would rather be a titular head of the party.

“That’s my preference. I just feel that I have too much in my hands right now—iyong pagpalit ng mukha ng Office of the Vice President ay napakalaking bagay kasi para kaming nagsisimula ng isang bagay na wala pa diyan before,” she said.

Making the OVP “more advocacy heavy” and the increasing housing concerns her office received had been keeping her busy, she said.

Robredo ran under the LP, backed by the Aquino administration, with its standard-bearer Mar Roxas. Roxas finished second and lost to President Rodrigo Duterte with over six million votes.

“Ako parati ko namang sinasabi na I will be there pero iyong constitution kasi ng partido ang nagsasabi na iyong highest elected official ang magiging head ng party pero ang sabi ko pag-usapan kasi baka puwede namang head ka ng party pero mas ceremonial,” she said.

Adding that she had been a member of LP only in 2013, Robredo said there were more experienced and veteran members who could take over the party leadership.

“Siguro eventually I can take it on pero ngayon siguro mas mabuti na iyong mga matatagal na, iyong mga nakakaalam ng ins and outs ng partido sila iyong mag-take muna ng leadership role,” she said./rga