Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda believes that there is a small possibility that President Rodrigo Duterte will endorse Vice President Leni Robredo’s presidential campaign.
“As to a possible PRRD endorsement of VP Leni, of course it is remote, but still possible. There are commonalities between PRRD and VP Leni, mainly the emphasis on previously rejected or unheard sectors of society. After all, much of Visayas and Mindanao voted for them together, as a ticket,” Salceda said in a Viber message to reporters on Sunday, March 13.
Early in Salceda’s message, he even cited VP Robredo’s late husband, Jesse Robredo.
“Secretary Jesse Robredo used to say that the most essential requirement for leadership is character, and that all the other competencies can be learned. It’s a great bonus that VP Leni is a lawyer. She also happens to have an economics degree. But that’s not the most important qualification,” Salceda said.
“President Duterte clearly said he believed that we need a compassionate president, with good judgment. He is correct. He just believes that lawyers may be better equipped with the faculty of decisive judgment. Others from a different background, but who are sincere and keep themselves informed would be able to make wise judgments, as well,” Salceda continued.
Salceda said this, after Duterte bared in an interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy the ideal traits he would look for in his successor.
“Yung para sa tao talaga (Someone who is for the people)...Wag kang matakot (Don’t be afraid). It’s the best quality. But of the good qualities of the president, sana abogado (hopefully a lawyer, too),” Duterte said in the March 12 interview.
Of the 10 presidential candidates, only VP Robredo and Jose Montemayor are lawyers.
He then praised Duterte’s silence on the elections. Duterte has not officially endorsed any presidential candidate so far.
“President Duterte has been wise to allow the people to decide who should succeed him. That allows him to be above petty partisanship, which prevents him from being a lame duck. We still need a strong President in these crisis months,” he added.
Previously, Salceda himself endorsed VP Robredo, calling her “good for our economy.” He also endorsed vice presidential bet Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, daughter of the president.