Robredo to campaigning politicians: 'Do your job first'

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday hit officials and politicians already going around the country to campaign for next year’s midterm elections, saying they should all first do their jobs.

Robredo, in an interview at the launching of the Albay Provincial Library Gender and Development Section, said that it was still too early to be campaigning and thinking of next year’s polls.

“If everybody talks about elections, that will not be good for everyone. If public servants are already going around to campaign, this is not yet the proper time. This is not yet the time for that,” the vice president said in Filipino.

“There is time to campaign. Let us do our jobs first,” the vice president added.

Robredo also refused to divulge the names of possible candidates of the Liberal Party next year. She said that names had been mentioned but they were yet to comprehensively discuss their plans for 2019.

“We haven’t seriously discussed that, but we have already mentioned some names, but I’m not at liberty to disclose those,” she said.

She also lauded the conciliatory tone of President Rodrigo Duterte, who urged on Thursday for politicians to forget about politics and start working together.

Robredo however said that this was easier said than done as many officials were making decisions based on politics and not on principles.

“This is easier said than done but sometimes it’s difficult to remember that in our hearts. Just like now, we see many national government officials already campaigning,” she said.

Just two days ago, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez revealed eight names that could form part of the senatorial line-up of the ruling PDP-Laban, still more than a year before the May 2019 elections.

The ruling party’s possible candidates, according to the speaker, are Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, presidential aide Christopher “Bong” Go, Francis Tolentino, Rep. Reynaldo Umali (Oriental Mindoro), Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu (Maguindanao), Rep. Geraldine Roman (Bataan) and Rep. Karlo Nograles (Davao).

Alvarez has been busy going around the country to supposedly preside over oath-taking ceremonies of new members of PDP-Laban.

On his visits to different provinces, he has been vocal in stressing the need to vote for administration candidates supposedly to help the president’s agenda move forward.

Roque meanwhile has also been visiting different places in the country supposedly to give local media an opportunity to ask the palace questions.

Go has been a constant presence by the president’s side and is supposedly being egged on by supporters to run for senator.

He has shifted his position from turning down a senatorial run outright to saying that it’s not yet its time to be discussed.