WARM
ENCOUNTER. Smiles, the offer of a cold drink and an invitation to visit
“anytime” mark the first meeting between Vice President Leni Robredo
and President Duterte during Friday’s change of command ceremony at
Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon
City. JOAN BONDOC
The country’s newly sworn-in top two officials met for the first time
on Friday almost two months after being elected, and Vice President
Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo was “relieved” that it was not as bad as she
expected.
Robredo on Saturday said she was bracing for the worst during her
first encounter with President Rodrigo Duterte at the military’s change
of command ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
“Ako, I was expecting for the worst na hindi niya ako papansinin. At
alam mo iyon, parang nire-ready ko rin iyong sarili ko. Kaya noong
pag-akyat niya pa lang sa stage na pagpalit ko sa kanya, agad naman na
pinansin niya ako,” Robredo told reporters in an ambush interview in her
hometown Naga.
“Actually iyong first niya atang sinabi sa akin, ‘At last nag-meet na
tayo.’ Kaya sabi ko naman sa kanya, ‘Oo nga po, Mr. President.’ He was
nice the entire time,” she said.
Contrary to her “apprehensions,” Robredo said she felt welcomed by the President, whom she called “very sincere.”
After shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries, Duterte in his
speech acknowledged Robredo’s presence in the ceremonies and said he
would have loved to be seated right beside her. For her part, the Vice
President said she took the opportunity to set a courtesy call on
Duterte, to which the President agreed.
“Ang sabi niya, ‘Actually may sinet na pero wala ka kasi noong
sinet.’ Sabi ko, ‘Hindi po kasi ako nakunsulta noong date. I was out of
the country. Sabi niya, ‘Anytime.’ Tingin ko naman very sincere, mabait
naman siya sa akin. Kaya pagbalik ko sa opisina kahapon, iyon na ang
ibinilin ko sa office. Mag-contact sa opisina ni Pangulong Duterte at
makipag-set ng appointment soonest available time,” Robredo said, adding
that she was hoping the appointment to be set next week.
The supposed distance between the two were fanned by speculations
following their separate inaugurations on Thursday, a first in
Philippine history.
A “noncommittal” Duterte also previously said there was “no
compelling reason” for him to give Robredo a Cabinet position as he did
not want to hurt the feelings of his friend, defeated vice presidential
candidate Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The son and namesake of
the late dictator lost to the widow of the late interior chief Jesse
Robredo by over 200,000 votes in the May elections.
Asked about the photos of their first meeting where she was seen
laughing, Robredo said she was just happy for the opportunity to be able
to meet and set an appointment with Duterte, who she said cracked jokes
during their encounter.
“Nagbibiro siya. Binibigay niya sa akin iyong iniinom niyang coco
water. Actually parang relieved naman ako noong pagkikita namin kasi
siyempre marami rin akong apprehensions na magkikita kami yesterday kasi
while kilalang kilala ko siya, talagang kahit ako first time ko siyang
nakita,” Robredo said.
“Pinapagalitan nga ako ng mga anak ko kasi parang tawa daw ako nang
tawa. Sabi ko, siguro na-manifest lang iyong saya ko. Na-manifest lang
siguro iyong saya ko na ang fears ko nang first meeting namin ay hindi
naman nangyari at parang na-exceed niya iyong expectations na napakabait
naman niya sa akin kahapon,” she added.
The Vice President said she was hoping that their first cordial
encounter would be the start of a “harmonious” relationship with
Duterte.
“Palagay ko para sa bansa naman, kailangan na iyong parang healthy
lang ang magiging working relationship namin kasi after all, kami naman
ang nanay at tatay ng bansa. Kaya after yesterday mas naging hopeful
naman ako na bumuti,” Robredo said.
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