President Aquino Confirms Meeting with Leni Robredo, Daughters on Vice Presidential Bid

President Benigno S. Aquino III confirmed that he met with Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo, two of her three daughters, and Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of Robredo running for vice president.

“Wala pang tapos na usapan. Mag-uusap kami ulit, pero maganda ‘yung parang clearing the air. ‘Yung expectation settings, lahat, nandoon nailagay; bakit kami pabor na siya ang maging vice president natin, et cetera,” he told reporters during a media interview in Luna, Apayao on Wednesday.

When asked what Robredo could contribute to Roxas’ presidential campaign, the President said it would be her “positive image”.

“Si Leni, palagay ko, positibong-positibo ang imahe… Kung maghahanap ka ng talagang hindi pwedeng masasabing ‘trapo’ o traditional politician… ang isa sa mga mukha nito—si Leni Robredo. Siyempre, nandiyan na rin ‘yung siya ang kasama, karamay ni (late interior secretary) Jesse (Robredo) sa lahat ng nagawa niya sa Naga at sa buong Pilipinas din sa maraming pagkakataon; ‘yung katatagan ng loob,” he said.

“Ang dami na niyang dinemonstrate (demonstrate) na kahanga-hanga talaga. So, ito, isasama niya sa pagkampanya—kasama ni Mar (Roxas) at ‘pag pinalad silang dalawa—mayroon tayong talagang isang team na talagang magpapabilis ng lahat ng nagawa na natin dito sa Daang Matuwid,” he added.

Also present during the meeting was Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman.

It was the second time the President met with the widow of former interior secretary Jesse Robredo to convince her to run as Roxas’ vice president in next year’s national elections. PND (ag)