Vice President and Presidential aspirant Leni Robredo will make sure that what she went through during the current administration will not happen to her successor if she wins the election in May 2022.
Whoever the elected Vice President next year, Robredo said, will not suffer the same fate of not being given a cabinet position or not given the chance to work with the President if she will be elected.
"Sa akin in general, hindi ko gagawin, kung ako palarin, hindi ko gagawin sa vice president yung na-experience ko as vice president ngayon. Kasi ang paniniwala ko, ang bansa natin ang magbe-benefit kung ang president at vice president work well together (For me in general, if I will be given the chance, I will not let the vice president experience what I am experiencing as vice president Because I believe that our country will benefit if the president and vice president work well together)," Robredo said during a press briefing in Sorsogon on Friday, Oct. 29.
Robredo was specifically responding to a question whether she would give a position to Senator and vice presidential candidate Bong Go if he wins as the Vice President or would it be payback time in case she also wins as the country's top executive.
"So, kahit sino yung maging vice president, bibigyan ng malaking role sa pamahalaan dahil yung pagkakaintindihan namin, magreresulta ng maraming kabutihan para sa bansa natin (So, whoever will be the elected vice president, he will be given a big role in the government because the understanding between us will result to many good things for the country)," Robredo said.
Robredo was initially given a cabinet position as the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council chair in 2016 but this appointment was cut short. She stepped down as the housing chief after receiving an order from President Duterte "to desist from attending all Cabinet meetings" starting December 5 of that year.
The Vice President, however, stressed that she is not yet at the point of thinking about the creation of her cabinet if she wins but her ways on choosing would not be about alliances and favors.
"Tingin ko yung pagpili would come after the elections pero yung sa akin lang ayoko na maging consideration siya, ayoko yung susuportahan ako tapos yung usapan cabinet positions (I think the selection of cabinet members would come after the elections but for me I don't want it to be based on consideration, I don't want it to be like returning a favor)," Robredo said.
"Kasi yung pagpili ng cabinet, napakahalaga nito. Yung pagpili ng cabinet, hindi siya dapat tinitingnan sa partylines. Dapat ang pagpili ng cabinet, pinipili natin yung best in their field (Because forming a cabinet is very important. It should not be based on partylines. It should be about choosing the best in their field)," she added.