Vice President Leni Robredo
(Photo by OVP / MANILA BULLETIN) Her reason: To insulate them from politics. Robredo, who served briefly as housing czar in the Duterte administration, said the current term for village officials is too short for their plans and programs. “Noong miyembro pa tayo ng 16th Congress, isa na ito sa panukala natin – na mas habaan iyong term of office ng mga barangay officials. Kasi isa din itong paraan para ilayo sila sa masyadong pulitika,” she said. (When I was still a member of the 16th Congress, this was one of my proposals – to extend the terms of village officials. Because it is also a way to keep them away from too much politics.) The Vice President said she believes that when village elections are “too politicized,” it is not good for the local community. “At habang ganito kadalas iyong eleksyon – dahil three years iyong term of office nila – hindi talaga malalayo sa ganoon na danger," Robredo said. (And while the conduct of these elections is frequent – because their term of office is three years – they are not far from that kind of danger.) Robredo was in Naga City last Monday to lead the oath-taking of newly-elected village captains and youth council officials coinciding with the city’s 70th Charter Day. The Vice President addressed the new Naga village and youth council chairmen, telling them to truthfully carry out their tasks of serving their communities. Robredo said that the youth council should serve as “training ground” for the country’s future leaders. “Iyong sa akin, mabuti na i-capacitate sila para alam nila at handa sila para maging tunay na representative ng mga kabataan,” she said. (For me, it would be better to capacitate them so they will know and be ready to become the true representatives of the youth.)