DAVAO CITY – Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, who is the administration party candidate for vice president said she is a friend with Inday Sara, the daughter of Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban standard bearer and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
“Magkaibigan kami. Actually, even before when I come (here), I try to find time to talk to her,” Robredo told reporters after a dialogue she had with the multisectoral groups here.
The two even shared lunch together after Robredo’s event.
Sara, substituted her father as mayoral candidate after the latter decided to run for president opposing Liberal Party standard bearer, Mar Roxas.
Robredo said Sara was mayor when her husband, Jesse, was still the secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“Kaibigan siya ng asawa ko, she was mayor when my husband was DILG (secretary) so, we’re friends (she is a friend of my husband),” said Robredo.
Asked whether the younger Duterte has expressed support for her candidacy, Robredo said they talk more on a personal level.
“Hindi naman tungkol sa politika. Mas kumustahan lang. Yung pinaka-una namin, the first time we met pinagusapan namin yong asawa ko, nagpapasalamat siya marami daw sa kanyang naitulong (It’s not about politics. It’s more on well-wishes. We talked about my husband during our first meeting. She said she is very thankful because he helped a lot),”said Robredo.
Robredo said her husband also told her good words about the former mayor. She said her husband is appreciative not only of former Mayor Sara, but also of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
Robredo said she hopes her good relationship with Duterte will not be tainted by politics.
“Ano naman, sana hindi masira ng politika kasi meron namang respetohan sa bawat isa sa amin (I hope it will not be ruined by politics because we both respect each other),” she said.
Meanwhile, Robredo said she needs to work hard to campaign in Mindanao.
In the latest Pulse Asia survey results for the vice presidential race held between December 4-11, Robredo got 14 percent on the fourth place after Sen. Francis Escudero who remained the top choice with 29 percent; followed by Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with 23 percent; and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano with 18 percent.
Robredo only got 10 percent of the total survey results from Mindanao. Escudero got 30 percent, followed by Cayetano with 27 percent and Marcos with 19 percent.
Robredo admitted that she is not known in Mindanao.
“Unang-una aware naman ako na halos hindi ako kilala dito. Yung asawa ko siguro yung kilala. Kasi alam niyo naman noong DILG secretary pa siya wala sigurong Linggo na hindi siya pumunta sa Mindanao (In the first place, I am aware that I am not known here. Maybe my husband is because when he was still working as DILG secretary, there was not a week that he does not go to Mindanao),” said Robredo.
“Among the vice presidential candidates, I am the one who has never run for national office that’s why I need to do double-time work,” she said. (With a report from Ace R. Morandante/davaotoday.com)
