Vice President Leni Robredo remains mum about her political plans for 2022 even as President Duterte once again belittled her capability should she run for president in next year’s polls.
Asked if the vice president is ready to run for the country’s highest top post, her Spokesman Ibarra Gutierrez said that right now, Robredo is focused on her COVID-19 response programs.
“Nako, kailangan siguro siya ang kausapin niyo diyan pero sa kaniyang mga pahayag nitong mga nakaraang linggo, malinaw na ang kaniyang tutok pa rin hanggang ngayon ay itong ating problema sa COVID (You need to talk to her about that but based on her statements these past weeks, it is clear that her focus is still our problem with COVID-19,” he said over DZRH.
But Gutierrez promised that, in time, Robredo will decide whether to run for president in 2022 or not, because “she has never backed down from the challenge of public service.”
In a televised address on Monday night, Duterte fired back at Robredo for her “extortion” comment to his demand that the United States pay for the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the Philippines.
Duterte claimed Robredo is not qualified to run for president as she knows nothing about foreign policy. He even advised the lady official to take a refresher course in law.
Robredo forgets her law background “every time she opens her mouth,” he said.
The Chief Executive ranted against Robredo despite the fact the latter has yet to mention any political plans for 2022.
Gutierrez said that even during next year’s national elections, the overarching problem would still be the pandemic because it will take until 2023 before the country achieves herd immunity.
Herd immunity happens when the virus can’t spread in a community because it keeps on encountering people who are protected against the virus. It is estimated that the Philippines needs to inoculate some 75 percent to 80 percent of the population before herd immunity can be achieved.
“So sa ngayon, ang attitude ni VP, ito iyong importante, ito iyong mahalaga sa ating mga kababayan, iyan muna ang ating tutukan, saka na muna natin pag-usapan ang politika (For now, the VP’s attitude, this is what’s important. This is what’s important to our people. This is what we should focus on. We can talk about politics some other time,” he said.