MANILA, Philippines – A vice president is not a spare tire – nor is she someone who should use the position to prepare to take over the country's top post.
Asked how she saw the role of a vice president during the #AngPagsusuri forum at the University of the Philippines-Diliman on Monday, November 30, Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo said a vice president should on the job and not use the office to gain mileage in preparation for a presidential bid.
"Ang vice president hindi dapat nag-aambisyon maging presidente, dapat naka-concentrate sa trabaho," Robredo said, drawing applause from the audience. (A vice president should not aspire to be president, but concentrate on the job.)
The neophyte lawmaker is running for vice president with the ruling Liberal Party, alongside the administration's standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II.
Robredo did not mention any candidate, later telling reporters that it was not meant to allude to anyone in particular. The other vice-presidential bet who was in the forum was Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero, running mate of presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe.
"Traditionally, it seems presumed that a vice president will aspire to be president. But I think that as soon as the vice president aspires for higher office, he will not be able to take advantage of his own position to help others," she said.
"Oras na mag-ambisyon na siya, gagamitin na niya most probably ang kanyang position para mangampanya. Pero pag walang ganoon ambisyon, mas pure ang intention, mas pure ang loob para sa paninilbihan," she added.
(Once he becomes ambitious, he will most probably use his position to campaign. But if there is no such ambition, the intention and will to serve is pure.)
Inspirational role
While some brand the vice presidential post as a "spare tire," Robredo said she saw the role differently.
"The role of a vice president is more inspirational, to draw national attention to advocacies that need to be pushed," Robredo said. (READ: The Leader I Want: Leni Robredo’s to-fix list for 2016)
She said the country's second highest post is an opportunity to bring to the national spotlight the needs of sectors that have long been ignored by the national government.
In previous speeches, Robredo has long espoused a style of leadership that invited citizen participation. Citing her late husband's leadership of Naga City, the lawmaker said she wanted to push for a grassroots style of governance that would involve the public in the policy making processes of their leaders.
If elected as vice president, Robredo said she plans to continue her husband's hands-on approach: to be seen on the ground, helping out the poor and the marginalized.
"If I am fortunate, I hope to be a vice president who will not just be in office in Manila, but be seen in the provinces. It's time to bring focus to those long left behind," she said. – Rappler.com