Rodriguez says VP Leni fits Duterte's criteria; 'She's the best for our country, our children'
House Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has urged President Rodrigo Duterte to endorse Vice President Leni Robredo’s presidential campaign.

He argued that VP Robredo has a distinct advantage if elected given her incumbent position and that Duterte’s endorsement of her would “help VP Leni secure victory on May 9.”
“The President certainly wants his reform programs to be continued by his successor. It is VP Leni who could offer continuity because she has been there, as Vice President of the land. She was even involved in the implementation of such reforms and policy and decision-making process,” the House leader said in a press statement on Tuesday, March 15.
Rodriguez and his Centrist Democratic Party also previously endorsed Robredo on March 13 via Twitter, saying “She is the best choice for our country and our children moving forward.”
“The President has expressed his desire for his successor to be ideally a lawyer, one who is decisive and compassionate, and possesses a good judgment. As a lawyer, I agree with him, and the presidential candidate who fits that description is none other than VP Leni,” Rodriguez added, referring to Duterte’s earlier statements about the traits he would like to see in his ideal successor.
Duterte said that he would like his successor to be compassionate, decisive, a good judge of character, and a lawyer.
“I have seen the massive crowds that VP Leni’s campaign sorties have attracted. These are ordinary Filipinos, workers, the middle class, those in the A-B economic groups, the laity of the church, and the youth. They are not the hakot type, and apparently, they have not been reached by surveys. They are the people who will elect her and make her win, not the pollsters,” he said.
Massive crowds of up to 70,000 have attended VP Robredo’s rallies.
Rodriguez is just one of many politicians who have already endorsed VP Robredo’s candidacy including PDP-Laban VP and Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando, and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda just to name a few.