Belmonte: Looks like Leni Robredo will be Mar’s VP

The tandem of former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo appears to be sealed already as far as House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. is concerned, even as she has yet to formally accept the Liberal Party's offer to become its vice presidential candidate.

“It looks like Robredo will be the VP candidate,” Belmonte, a vice chairman of the ruling party, said Sunday in a text message.

The Speaker earlier pushed for Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, a Nacionalista Party stalwart, to become Roxas' running mate.

Last Friday, Robredo confirmed she was officially asked by Roxas to be the administration's vice presidential candidate in the 2016 elections. She said she will have a decision ready before October 16, the deadline set by the Commission on Elections for filing of the certificates of candidacies for the upcoming polls.

Roxas was appointed to head the Department of Interior and Local Government in September 2012 after Robredo's husband, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, was killed in a plane crash the previous month. Roxas resigned from the position on August 3 this year after getting Aquino's endorsement for his 2016 presidential bid.

In separate interviews, LP stalwarts Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas and Cavite Rep. Francis Gerald Abaya said Robredo's request for a three-week period for decision-making was reasonable.

“I understand where Cong. Leni is coming from. Having known her personally, she is a very simple and humble person. Hindi siya politiko at hindi siya oportunista. This is the biggest decision of her life. Let’s give her time to discern. I really wish she says yes to be our vice president. The sooner, the better. She’s the perfect fit for daang-matuwid,” Vargas said.

Abaya, meanwhile, expressed confidence that Robredo will agree to become Roxas' running mate despite her earlier hesitation to accept the LP's offer because of her children's opposition to it, and her belief that there are other individuals more capable than her of serving as vice president.

“I believe LP respects Cong. Leni so much that it will accede to her request and will never question her sincerity, or the reasonableness of her request. On the other hand, I also believe that Cong. Leni equally respects LP that she will do what is right and will come through for the party. I think it’s a sign that she’s asking for time to decide, because it would mean that her final decision would be a somber and thoughtful one,” he said.

While describing Robredo as a “good candidate,” Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto noted that if she were to accept the role, she would be running against Senator Francis Escudero, a more seasoned politician.

Escudero was named independent presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe's running mate last week.

“Ang llamado sa vice president sa ngayon at sa mga surveys na nakikita ko ay si Sen. Chiz Escudero. Maganda rin ang tambalan nila ni Grace only because ano yung kulang ni Grace sa karanasan, mayroon si Chiz. Nagco-compliment sila,” Recto said.

Asked what Robredo could do to match up to Escudero, the senator said: “That will be the challenge. And also, both of them are from Bicol so kahit papaano, maghahati-hati sila ng boto ng mga 'yan.” — BM, GMA News