Robredo’s struggle between single motherhood, politics
Before her husband died in a plane crash in 2012, Leni Robredo had resolved never to enter politics.
But tragedy catapulted the lawyer and mother of three onto the political stage and today, over three years since she took oath as the vice president of the Philippines, Robredo admits, even if begrudgingly, that she might be in politics for the long haul.
Before running for office in 2015, Robredo, 54, had earned a reputation as a lawyer who helped poor farmers and fishermen and for being a steadfast opponent of corruption.
She was elected separately to President Rodrigo Duterte and has always had a frosty relationship with the president, who routinely
PHILIPPINES POLITICS
mocks her during public speeches. Earlier this year, police charged members of the Philippine political opposition — including Robredo — with sedition and other offenses for reportedly plotting to oust Duterte, charges she describes as harassment to intimidate critics of the increasingly autocratic leader. The soft-spoken lawyer and former legislator has constantly questioned Duterte’s drug war, which has left more than 6,600 people dead in the last three years, according to police estimates.
Robredo has also supported a resolution by the UN Human Rights Council to carry out an independent investigation into extrajudicial killings being carried out by the Philippine police.
All this work, Robredo laments, has meant less time at home with her three daughters Jessica, Janine and Jillian, who have had to grapple with both the untimely death of their father and the fallout of the illustrious political career of their mother.
“When my husband was the politician, I was the one protecting my children from the ugliness of it all,” Robdero told Arab News in an exclusive interview last week. “Three years into my work as vice president, they seem to have adjusted to the job, but of course, they are looking toward the end of my term where they can have me again. But it has been difficult.” Most days, by the time Robredo’s work day is over, it is well past dinner time and disappointment sets in yet again at not having made it home in time.
“I have tried to make sure that I still have time for my daughters, but it has been difficult,” Robredo said. “Nowadays, my desire is to be home as soon as I can, to eat dinner with my children.”
Widowed at the age of 47 when her youngest daughter was just 12, the lawyer spoke with pride at having been an ever-present mother, picking and dropping her kids to school, preparing their meals and helping with homework.
But when her husband, then Philippines’ interior secretary died in a tragic air crash, Robredo was faced with the difficult prospect of filling his shoes.
“I felt like he [Jesse Robredo] was gone before he could fulfil all his dreams for the country.”