Former vice president Leni Robredo did not think it would be easy to head a non-government organization coming off a polarizing campaign season, but she said on Monday, Sept. 19, that government offices have been cooperative to her Angat Buhay Foundation as she avoided questions about a possible political comeback.
In an interview during the soft opening of the “Museo ng Pag-asa”, a museum of kakampink memorabilia, souvenirs, and campaign paraphernalia, Robredo shrugged off questions about possibly running for public office again.
“Masyado pang malayo. Ang dami pa pwedeng mangyari pero ngayon, ang buong focus ko nasa Angat Buhay (It’s still a long way. A lot can still happen but for now, my whole focus is on Angat Buhay),” she told reporters.
The former official was congresswoman for three years and vice president for six years before stepping down from power in June.
Supporters have already been persuading her to run for president again in 2028 or if possible, for the Senate in the 2025 midterm elections.
But Robredo on Monday remained mum about any political plans, choosing instead to spend her energy on her numerous projects, especially in her hometown of Bicol where she recently inaugurated housing programs and projects on education, health, and nutrition.
She also shared that government offices had been “very cooperative” to her so she felt that she may not need a government position to help the people.
READ: ‘Museo ng Pag-asa’ opens; ex-VP Robredo says it’s a museum for all
“Nakikita ko na hindi naman kailangan rin ang posisyon para makatulong (I can see that we don’t need a position to help). So far, very cooperative naman ‘yung mga (our) government offices sa atin (to us),” she said.
“Yun lang naman iyong ninanais ko na sana hindi tingnan ‘yung Angat Buhay na kalaban kasi tayo naman hindi nakikipagkumpetensya pero nagfifill-in lang tayo ng (That’s what I am hoping, for Angat Buhay not to be seen as an enemy because we are not competing but filling in the) gaps. Saka gusto lang natin mag-supplement kung ano na andiyan (We just want to supplement what’s already there),” she added.
Robredo’s recent meeting with Social Works Secretary Erwin Tulfo raised eyebrows among administration supporters, but the former vice president admitted it was them who reached out to the official because a lot can be done when the private and public sectors work together.
“Thankful kami na hindi kami tinitingnan na kalaban. Thankful kami na ang tingin niya din marami kaming magagawa kung magtulungan kami. Sobrang warm ang welcome so nagpapasalamat kami sa DSWD (We are thankful that we are not being seen as an enemy. We are thankful that he thinks we can do a lot of things if we will help each other. The welcome was very warm and we are thankful to DSWD),” she shared.
Robredo originally thought that heading the foundation would be difficult now that she isn’t in office anymore, but it had actually been easier because there are volunteers now that were not present when she was the vice president.