Robredo still hopes to meet with Duterte

With less than a week to go before their respective inauguration ceremonies, Vice President-elect Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo said she still hoped to meet with President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

 

"Nagsubok tayo na makakuha ng appointment pero hindi pa tayo nakakakuha ng schedule. Hindi pa naman tayo nawawalan ng pag-asa," Robredo said in an interview during the National Day Celebration for the Filipino Community in Japan.

 

She added that she understood that Duterte had a lot of matters to attend to, and that she was thus just waiting for the proper time for them to meet.

 

"Ako naman ay narito lang naman ako, nagsabi naman tayo sa people around him na anytime makahanap ng pagkakataon ay narito lang ako naghihintay," she explained.

 

Robredo and Duterte will hold separate inaugural ceremonies on Thursday, June 30. Both of had opted to be sworn in where they will be holding office.

 

Robredo will take her oath at the Quezon City Executive House, also known as the Boracay Mansion, where a short program will be held at 9 a.m., with around 300 guests expected.

 

She will be sworn in by two barangay captains: Rolando Coner of Punta Tarawal, and Regina Celeste San Miguel of Barangay Mariana.

 

Meanwhile, Duterte's inauguration will be held in Malacañang and will be attended by more than 500 guests. His staff had said that the ceremony would be an understated event, with simple fare — such as the president-elect's favorite maruya (banana fritters) — to be served.

 

As to whether she hoped to be invited to Duterte's inauguration, Robredo said, "Palagay ko hindi kasi may inauguration rin ako. They made it clear already that they prefer a separate inauguration."

 

"According to tradition dapat ako ang unang mag-oath ng office before him. Physically impossible na lumipat, lalo na kasi pinapa-report rin ang bisita sa Malacañang nang maaga. Hindi naman expected na pupunta ako, hindi ko rin expected na pupunta ako," she added. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/DVM, GMA News