VP Leni channels late husband Jesse Robredo's wisdom amid Duterte remark

After being asked to defend herself amid President Rodrigo Duterte's public remarks that belittled her ability to lead the country as his successor, Vice President Leni Robredo turned to the wisdom of her late husband.

Duterte, during a speech before diplomats, politicians and businessmen in Malacañang on Wednesday, said he is ready to step down if the likes of Senator Francis Escudero or former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Robredo's opponent, succeeds him in office.

Later in the evening, the vice president posted on her Facebook account that she received messages asking her to react or to defend herself.

She did not issue a statement, instead she posted an old interview of her late husband and then Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, saying she will "let him do the talking."

"Ganyan din naman sagot ko," she added.

In the clip taken from a one-on-one interview with GMA News' "Unang Balita," Jesse shared how he deals with the criticism and challenges that came with his position in government.

"Maayos naman ang hangarin mo. Gusto mo magtrabaho ng maayos. Gusto mo pang pagsipagan ito pero bakit nagkakaganito pa?" he said.

“I will not pay anyone just to build up my name, build up my image because if I do that, then I don’t believe in myself anymore,” he added.

"Eh sa akin, siguro 'yang larong 'yan, hindi talaga ako pwede. Kung ganyan 'yung laro sa Maynila, eh maling player ako o mali 'yung larong nasalihan ko," he also said.

Jesse Robredo, who was serving as Interior Secretary for the Aquino administration, died 2012 in a place crash in Masbate.

Leni also posted that they will be commemorating his sixth death anniversary on Saturday. — BAP, GMA News