Robredo prefers to be LP ceremonial head

Vice President Leni Robredo INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

VICE President Leni Robredo on Tuesday said she preferred to be a nominal head of the Liberal Party (LP) after the former ruling party had been decimated and joined the majority bloc led by the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban).

At a press conference, Robredo explained that she currently has “too much” in her hands, including changing the “face” Office of the Vice President by making it “advocacy heavy” as well as her having to chair the Housing and Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).

“It might be better or the party if the one who will lead it could focus on the affairs of the party. I always say that I will be there but the Constitution of the party says the highest elected official would be the party head. But I told them, we might have to talk about it because you can be a party head, but more ceremonial,” Robredo said.

The Vice President joined the LP in 2013, when she ran for congressman in Naga City.

It was her husband, the late Jesse Robredo, who was the longtime LP member.

She acknowledged that she was new to the Liberal Party, one of the oldest political parties in the country.

“Perhaps eventually I can take on (the leadership) but now, I think it would be better if the veterans who know the ins and outs of the party would take on the leadership role,” Robredo said.

Robredo gave the assurance that she would always be there for the LP.

“I already spoke to the other heads of the party and they have been encouraging me to take on the leadership role but I said we should wait for the SONA and then we can talk about it in the coming days,” Robredo said.

It is former House Speaker, Quezon City Rep. Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte, who continues to be regarded by the LP members as a party elder and leader.

Belmonte, one of the LP vice chairmen, said former President Benigno Aquino III also currently prefers to leave the party management to others.

“We don’t know what he will feel in a few months but right now, ang feeling nya, ‘Kayo na muna’,” Belmonte said.

It is also unclear what role former presidential candidate, Mar Roxas, would take in the LP post-elections.

On Sunday, Belmonte and 35 other LP members signed a coalition agreement with the PDP-Laban, formally joining the majority bloc.

“It is not true that you have to be an oppositionist to be a fiscalizer,” Belmonte said in a press briefing.

Belmonte added: “Even within our own ranks we are going to, in a brotherly way, we also want to see to it that everything is done right so that posterity will judge him well,” referring to President Duterte.

However, a handful of other LP members remained with the minority. These include Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, Northern Samar Rep. Raul Daza, Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, and Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat./ac