Vice President Leni Robredo
MANILA, Nov 1 (Mabuhay) — Vice President Leni Robredo is hoping President Rodrigo Duterte will stick to his promise to stop cussing.
Back home in Naga City for the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, Robredo was asked to comment on Duterte’s recent pledge to God, who he said spoke to him while he was on the flight back to Davao City from a three-day official visit to Japan.
“Sana,” she replied in an interview on Monday. “Kasi lalo na sa international community na hindi sanay sa ganoon, kahit hindi malicious ‘yung gusto niyang sabihin, nagkakaroon ng ibang mensahe.”
The Vice President, who previously joined calls asking the President to be more careful with his pronouncements, reiterated that national officials like them must consider that they serve a wider audience.
In this setting, she noted that their statements may be misunderstood, and she said she reminds herself to be more careful as well.
“Hindi lang sa kaniya. Kami din ‘yung pagpapaalala sa sarili na parating maging maingat sa sinasabi, kasi ‘yung mga sinasabi namin ngayon, nagkakaroon ng ibang dimensions, hindi tulad ng mga kausap namin noon na lahat kilala kami at naiintindihan ang gusto naming sabihin,” she said.
“Dati sa Davao, si Pangulong Duterte, kahit anong sabihin niya, naiintindihan ng mga taga-Davao kasi kilala siya. Sa atin dito [sa Naga], ako, kahit ‘yung sabihin ko medyo careless, naiintindihan ako ng tao. Pero ngayon kasi, ang aming audience, mas malawak na, mas maraming hindi nakakakilala. Kaya ‘yun din ang paalala ko sa aking sarili na maging maingat sa lahat ng mga sinasabi,” Robredo added.
Robredo also noted anew that she shares a good working relationship with Duterte, who she said has been supportive in her work as Housing czar.
She also called on people not to pit them against each other.
“Maayos naman si Presidente. Maayos ‘yung treatment sa akin. In fact, ‘yung ilang requests ko sa kaniya, swiftly inaksyunan… ‘Pag nagre-report ako sa Cabinet, sang-ayon siya at very supportive,” she said.
She added: “Ang sa akin lang, dapat siguro huwag na kaming pag-awayin kasi kami, wala kaming problema.”
“‘Yung mga supporters lang siguro namin ang… parati ko ngang sinasabi na hindi makakatulong na ang supporters namin ay nag-aaway-away. Kasi ito ang panahon na kailangan na nagkakasundo kami dahil maraming problema na haharapin,” she went on. (MNS)