VP Leni has no plan to replace Duterte —spokesperson

Vice President Leni Robredo's spokesperson on Monday belied President Rodrigo Duterte's claim that she is "in a hurry" to become president.

“Alam naman po nating lahat na hindi 'yan totoo dahil si VP Leni mismo ang nagsasabi na wala 'yan sa kanyang mga plano at hindi po niya 'yan kailanman gagawin,” Georgina Hernandez, Robredo's spokesperson, told Unang Balita in an interview.

In a separate interview, Hernandez said Duterte is “entitled” to say what’s on his mind.

She, however, reiterated that Robredo has no such plan, focusing instead on her office’s anti-poverty program, as well as on securing justice for families affected by extrajudicial killings.

“Sana tingnan rin kung saan nanggagaling, wala naman po talagang ganu’ng plano at hindi nag-aapura si VP Leni sa kung anuman, kundi apurahin lang ‘yung mga sinimulan namin na programa para sa anti-poverty,” Hernandez told reporters at the sidelines of Quezon City’s women’s month celebration, where Robredo was guest of honor.

Asked if the President’s statement is uncalled for, Robredo’s spokesperson replied: “Rerespetuhin natin kung ano ‘yung sasabihin ng Pangulo, pero para kay VP Leni, ang tanging inaapura lang niya talaga ay ‘yung magkaroon din ng hustisya para sa mga pamilya na naapektuhan ng extrajudicial killings, at saka magkaroon din ng pangkabuhayan na programa ‘yung mga nangangailangan.”

She also countered a similar pronouncement from House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, saying his accusation has “no basis.”

“Wala sa kaniyang plano na magmadali o maging Pangulo,” Hernandez again said of Robredo.

On Sunday night, Duterte said in a speech before the Filipino community in Myanmar that Robredo wants his seat. He is in Myanmar for an official visit.

"Mga kalaban ko, gusto ako... Si Leni apurado masyado maging President," he said.

Duterte's remark came as his ally, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, has threatened to file an impeachment complaint against Robredo. Alvarez had said that Robredo could be charge with betrayal of public trust for her recorded statement, where she revealed the alleged police abuses, including a "palit-ulo" scheme and warrantless searches, in Duterte's war on drugs.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella had said that the release of the video and the filing of an impeachment complaint against Duterte "are seem too well-coordinated just to be coincidence."

On Saturday, Robredo denied that her recorded statement, which was played in a United Nations forum in Austria was part of the ouster plan against Duterte. The video was posted on YouTube last March 13, but was scheduled to be played during the UN forum on March 16, the same day the impeachment complaint was filed.

Robredo said the video was recorded late February.

Before the video was posted on YouTube, Duterte cleared Robredo of possible involvement in supposed destabilization plots against him.

"Hindi ko sabihin kasali si Leni. I don't want to drag Leni," he said. —Erwin Colcol and Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/ALG/RSJ, GMA News