‘Robredo ready to work with any VP’

MANILA, Philippines — While she will continue to push for the election of her running mate, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, the camp of presidential candidate and Vice President Leni Robredo said yesterday that she is ready to work with anyone who wins the vice presidential race.

“She would always prefer that she be working with the vice presidential bet of her choice, and that is really Sen. Kiko, but she has a very, very realistic attitude towards election and public service in the past,” Robredo’s spokesman Barry Gutierrez said in an interview with CNN Philippines.

“Regardless of who is elected, and of course right now we are doing everything in our power to ensure that that will be Sen. Kiko Pangilinan… But regardless of who gets elected, she will be willing to work with the person whom the people choose as the vice president,” he added.

Explaining Robredo’s commitment to work with any vice president, Gutierrez noted her experience as the second highest official during the term of vice presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s father, President Duterte.

“She has had experience with being a vice president who is an outsider looking in, someone who has been excluded in the day-to-day workings of the government because of the political configuration. Definitely, that is not something that she wants to happen to the next vice president,” he said.

“The Vice President has been very open to the idea that whoever gets elected as vice president – if it’s Mayor Sara, then it’s Mayor Sara – she will work with her to find a niche where she will be most effective in contributing her talents and experience to government,” he added.

Earlier this week, various officials launched a group supporting Robredo and Duterte-Carpio in the upcoming elections.

Among those pushing for the so-called “RoSa” tandem were Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco.

Gutierrez said they were informed ahead of the group’s launch, adding that they are still very thankful for their support to the Vice President.

Still, he said that Robredo will not be campaigning for any other vice presidential bet.

Robredo and Pangilinan, along with some of their senatorial candidates, campaigned in Nueva Ecija yesterday.