No such plot to oust
Duterte. No dreams of becoming President. And in fact, she says, she's even
willing to give up her vice-presidential post should the country adopt a form
of government that doesn't need one.
 |
President Rodrigo Duterte, Vice-President Leni Robredo |
VP Leni Robredo made these points clear on Friday amidst
talks of alleged Liberal Party's plan to unseat the President.
"Parati ko iyon inuulit, before until now. Wala naman
ako ganoong pangarap. Iyong sa akin lang, I want this administration to
succeed."
[Translation: I have always said that I have no such dreams
(of becoming President).]
She was reacting to a question in relation to a Facebook
post by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano earlier in the day:
"There's much more, but in a nutshell I challenge you
to stop campaigning and thinking of the Presidency and help attract
investments, build infrastructure, create jobs, and redistribute wealth in our
country. Let's do it together,"
Cayetano said, in response to Robredo's
challenge for him to speak up against the Marcoses despite his firm support for
President Rodrigo Duterte.
Robredo added she'd even want the Duterte administration to
succeed.
"President Duterte has the mandate of the Filipino
people," she said. "And tingin ko, obligasyon nating suportahan siya
(It is our obligation to support him)."
She noted that the administration had been in power for just
about six months.
"Hindi din maganda na nandoon na naman tayo sa may
papatalsikin."
[Translation: It's not good that here we are again calling
for ouster.]
Unifying opposing voices
Supporting the administration, however, doesn't mean not
airing dissenting voices anymore, Robredo says.
The Vice President said she would root for policies she'd
agree with, but would sound the alarm on things she'd find objectionable.
She mentioned issues like human rights, death penalty, the
lowering of the age of criminal liability and the Marcos burial.
Robredo said she hoped she would be able to unify the
scattered dissent into one loud voice.
"Hindi ako nawawalan ng pag-asa na hindi tayo
papakinggan ng Pangulo... If we are passionate enough about our dissent, baka
sakali pakinggan tayo.
[Translation: I remain hopeful that the President will
listen to us.]
Thankful
Along with talks of alleged plots to remove the President
were also talks of moves to oust the Vice President.
But Duterte had given Robredo yesterday an assurance that
she'd complete her six-year term.
"When I heard that sinabi ko naman salamat. Pero sana
ang reassurance na iyon hindi lang ngayon ibigay. Pero ibigay as the days,
months, and years go by," she said. "Kasi nakaka-create siya ng
uncertainty kapag nandoon hanging iyong, alam naman iyong kampo ni Marcos
masyadong maingay, sa 2017 kami na."
[Translation: When I heard about it, I said thank you. But I
hope that assurance would stand in the days, years to come. Because the Marcos
camp is making noises that by next year they'd be the ones in (vice
presidential) office.]
Support for federalism
Like Duterte, Robredo said she would also be okay with a
federal form of government if this would be the way to improve the lives of the
Filipinos.
But she said she needed clarification as to what kind of
federalism was on the table.
"Gulong gulo kasi ako sa anong iyong klaseng format ng
federalism na ino-offer. Mayroon tayong narinig from Senator Pimentel pero
mayroon din sinasabi si Presidente na French model. Naguguluhan tayo pero we're
willing to listen.
[Translation: I'm so confused as to what form of federalism
we are talking about — the one by Sen. Pimentel or the one by Duterte modelled
after France. We're at a loss but we are willing to listen.]
Should there be no post for a Vice President in the new form
of government, Robredo said that wouldn't be a problem for her.
"Iyong sa akin, hindi naman iyon mahalaga. Whether may
VP, o wala, kung iyon ang makakatulong sa ating gobyerno, iyon ang susuportahan
natin."
[Translation: For me that's not important. With or without a
VP, if that would help the government, we will support it.]
Source: cnnphilippines
Source: cnnphilippines
