Robredo closes door on VP bid
KIDAPAWAN CITY – For Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo, running for the country’s second highest post in 2016 national elections was “never an option.”
“Hindi ko siya pinangarap.. I’m very vocal not wanting it,” Robredo said during a press briefing here, Monday.
Robredo, wife of the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, was guest speaker during the 101st founding anniversary of North Cotabato.
She stressed there were only two options that she would choose from when she files her candidacy this October – either seek re-election or make a bid for a senatorial post.
“I am not prepared [to run in the vice presidency]. Sa totoo lang po, never na napag-usapan namin ni [DILG] Secretary [Mar] Roxas ang tungkol sa vice presidency,” she said as she instead endorsed Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Batangas Governor Vilma Santos to become Roxas’s running mate.
“Mas vast ang experience nina Senator Cayetano and Governor Vi. Ako? I am just [part of] osmosis [of my husband’s ideas, knowledge],” she explained.
Robredo, however, said that if she gets re-elected or wins in a higher post, she would carry her on with her husband’s style of leadership, which includes the ‘tsinelas (slippers) leadership.’
“Ordinary sa amin [sa Naga City] na naka-tsinelas. I think tsinelas leadership is so much more than wearing tsinelas. Simbolo siya ng simplicity, hindi lang sa trabaho kundi sa pamumuhay. Naniniwala ang asawa ko na for a public official to be able to sustain and maintain his integrity in public office, importante na yung buhay mo modest, simple. Kasi ‘yun ang nagsisiguro na ‘yung vulnerability sa temptation ay hindi mataas,” she explained.
She added that she will also strengthen transparency and accountability in governance as important ingredients for “good housekeeping,” full disclosure of all government records and the establishment of peoples’ consultative assembly.’
These, she stressed, had been her husband’s legacy in leadership.
If she makes it back in Congress, Robredo said she would be pushing for the passage of anti-poverty and food security bills.
She used as basis in her proposal the Brazil model of how it was able to combat poverty and ensures food security.
“Brazil has also conditional cash transfer and implements feeding program for schools. But 30 percent of the products used for the country’s feeding programs are taken from the produce of the farmers. The government buys the produce of their farmers. Also, it put up community restaurants for poor areas. These restaurants are subsidized by the Brazil government. I want to replicate this model in our country,” she explained.