VP Leni Robredo Clarifies: I Don’t Want To Be President

Vice President Robredo answered Senator Alan Peter Cayetano: ‘voicing opposition does not mean I want to be president.’

Vice President Leni Robredo answered Senator Alan Peter Cayetano clarifying that voicing out her opposition does not mean she wants to be president of the Philippines.

This statement was made by Robredo on Friday in response to the senator who told her that she should “stop campaigning and thinking of the presidency,” and instead help the Duterte administration.

“Hindi ko sasabihin na kapag nagdi-dissent tayo, tayo na ‘yung gustong maging pangulo,” Robredo said in an interview.

“Parati ko ‘yung inuulit before until now. Wala naman akong ganoong pangarap,” added the Vice President.

She has repeatedly said she is not eyeing higher office, after resigning as the chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).

To recall, during the campaign days, the female vice president even said an incumbent VP should vow not to seek the presidency, because it would only prompt him or her to spend his or her full term in investing for the next elections.

After resigning at the Cabinet, Robredo said she is willing to be the “unifying force” to help amplify the voices of those who are critical of the policies of the current administration.

“I want this administration to succeed. Pero for this administration to succeed, tingin ko mahalaga na pinakikinggan din nila ‘yung mga dissenting voices,” Robredo said.

“President Duterte has the mandate of the Filipino people and tingin ko obligasyon nating suportahan siya. Pero mas ganado tayo magsuporta kapag alam natin na pinapakinggan din naman ang ating mga pag-oppose sa ibang mga issues,” the vice president added.

On his Facebook, Cayetano issued a long response to Robredo on Friday, issuing a string of challenges for her to speak up and work on several issues, most of them related to her allies at the Liberal Party.

This was following the urge of Robredo for him to speak up against the Marcos family despite his loyalty to President Rodrigo Duterte.

The senator was Duterte’s runningmate in the May polls and placed third in the race, after Robredo and former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the son of the late dictator.