Robredo keeps focus on anti-poverty programs, denies engaging in politics
Published Sep 17, 2019 04:01 pm
By Raymund Antonio
Vice President Leni Robredo remains focused on her office’s anti-poverty program, at least for now.
Vice President Leni Robredo
(OVP / File Photo / MANILA BULLETIN) An advocate of the poor, Robredo downplayed suggestions her visit to far-flung areas nationwide to provide assistance had something to do with her possible presidential bid for 2022. “Kung politika iyong iisipin ko, dapat iyong mga programa namin nandoon na lang sa heavily populated areas, kasi doon ako makakakuha ng boto,” Robredo said. (If I’m going to think about politics, our programs should be carried out in heavily populated areas, where I can get votes.) “So tingin ko makakasama for our programs na ang isipin ko na iyong 2022. Kasi hindi na ako pupunta sa mga areas namin, kasi parang cost-benefit, lugi na kaagad kasi ang lalayo nga tapos hindi siya heavily populated areas,” she added. (So it would be bad for our programs if I think about 2022. I won’t go to our areas due to cost-benefit since they are too far and not heavily populated areas.) The lady official reacted to Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon comparing her and former Vice President Diosdado Macapagal, who was not given a Cabinet post during the time of former President Carlos Garcia. He later won the presidency. Robredo noted she and Macapagal were only alike in the way she doesn’t hold a Cabinet post in the Duterte administration. Asked whether she was considering taking the same path like Macapagal, Robredo replied the presidency can’t be planned. “Mahirap sabihing ‘considering’ dahil iyong trajectory ko naman sa politika, walang pinlano (It is hard to tell considering that my trajectory in politics was not planned),” she said. “Sa akin lang, parating bukas sa kahit anong possibilities, pero kailangan lang gawin iyong dapat gawin (For me, I’m always open to any possibilities, but we need to do our work),” Robredo added. The Vice President further explained they go to less vote-rich areas to “fill in the gaps” in the delivery of government programs. “Sa akin kasi, mahirap na planuhin siya kasi kapag pinlano siya, parang iyong lahat na ginagawa ko, ang iniisip ko na iyong saan ba ako makakakuha ng maraming boto. Parang kontra kasi siya sa ginagawa namin,” she said. (For me, it’s hard to plan it because if I do, everything I think is about where to get votes. That goes against our advocacy.)
Vice President Leni Robredo(OVP / File Photo / MANILA BULLETIN) An advocate of the poor, Robredo downplayed suggestions her visit to far-flung areas nationwide to provide assistance had something to do with her possible presidential bid for 2022. “Kung politika iyong iisipin ko, dapat iyong mga programa namin nandoon na lang sa heavily populated areas, kasi doon ako makakakuha ng boto,” Robredo said. (If I’m going to think about politics, our programs should be carried out in heavily populated areas, where I can get votes.) “So tingin ko makakasama for our programs na ang isipin ko na iyong 2022. Kasi hindi na ako pupunta sa mga areas namin, kasi parang cost-benefit, lugi na kaagad kasi ang lalayo nga tapos hindi siya heavily populated areas,” she added. (So it would be bad for our programs if I think about 2022. I won’t go to our areas due to cost-benefit since they are too far and not heavily populated areas.) The lady official reacted to Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon comparing her and former Vice President Diosdado Macapagal, who was not given a Cabinet post during the time of former President Carlos Garcia. He later won the presidency. Robredo noted she and Macapagal were only alike in the way she doesn’t hold a Cabinet post in the Duterte administration. Asked whether she was considering taking the same path like Macapagal, Robredo replied the presidency can’t be planned. “Mahirap sabihing ‘considering’ dahil iyong trajectory ko naman sa politika, walang pinlano (It is hard to tell considering that my trajectory in politics was not planned),” she said. “Sa akin lang, parating bukas sa kahit anong possibilities, pero kailangan lang gawin iyong dapat gawin (For me, I’m always open to any possibilities, but we need to do our work),” Robredo added. The Vice President further explained they go to less vote-rich areas to “fill in the gaps” in the delivery of government programs. “Sa akin kasi, mahirap na planuhin siya kasi kapag pinlano siya, parang iyong lahat na ginagawa ko, ang iniisip ko na iyong saan ba ako makakakuha ng maraming boto. Parang kontra kasi siya sa ginagawa namin,” she said. (For me, it’s hard to plan it because if I do, everything I think is about where to get votes. That goes against our advocacy.)