Drilon: Leni should be given time to talk to her children

Senate President Franklin Drilon on Thursday said Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo should be given more time to discuss with her children the Liberal Party's offer for her to be the running mate of former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the party's standard bearer in the 2016 elections.

“Dapat bigyan natin ng panahon si Congresswoman Leni na makipag-usap sa kanyang mga anak,” Drilon told reporters when asked on the update on the efforts to convince Robredo to run for vice president next year.

“An offer has been made to her at alam mo ang desisyon kung tatakbo o hindi ay personal sa bawat kandidato,” he added.

In an interview with reporters after the LP national convention in Quezon City on Wednesday, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr  said Robredo has already given her ‘informal’ consent on the offer although she still needs to talk with her children.

However, Robredo, widow of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, denied it. "Walang ganun kasi kung may consent ako dapat sana nag-declare na [ako],” she said in an interview.

Drilon and Belmonte, in separate occasions, had earlier said the LP has no other option but Robredo. “Wala kaming Plan B,” Drilon said.

“Talagang inalok kay Leni ang pagka-vice presidential candidate dahil siya ang sa aming tingin, ang modelo ng good governance, ng prinsipyo ng 'Daang Matuwid.' Noon po ay katulong na niya ang kanyang yumaong maybahay na si Jesse Robredo dito po sa pagtulong sa mga mahihirap at sa malinis na pamumuno,” he added.

The LP is set to announce its vice presidential candidate and senatorial ticket on Monday, October 5. —KBK, GMA News