Leni still ‘unripe’ for higher office, daughter says

MANILA, Philippines - Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo lacks the experience to run for senator or vice president in next year’s elections, as far as her daughter Tricia is concerned.

Tricia, 21, the middle child of Leni and the late interior secretary Jesse Robredo, said her mother is “unripe” for a national position.  

“She just had one term in Congress… I know a lot of people do that, I know people run for president without having experience with politics… We don’t want that she is still not ripe for the post. We’re talking about the country. It’s not a classroom that we just say we elect you as president,” Tricia said during the launch of the Tsinelas Leadership Awards  at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City yesterday.

“We know it’s a big responsibility… I saw how dedicated she is. She is very committed to learn. She had done a lot in the past three years. But if you’re going to ask… I think she needs more experience,” she said.

 Some administration party allies are pushing for Leni to be the running mate of Liberal Party presidential bet Mar Roxas.

Tricia said she and her siblings do not want their mother to seek a higher post. She said it is “something big” that they do not want to happen.

While Congress is something that they can handle, she said a national position is “too much.”

“We love Secretary Mar with all our hearts... we’d help Secretary Mar in any capacity. We can do anything to help except for our mother to run for a national post such as the running mate of Secretary Mar,” she said. 

Final say

However, Tricia said their mother has the final say on whether to run for a higher post.

She said Leni does not need to ask their permission at this time because the post has not been offered to her yet.

 She said some netizens were behind the supposed clamor for their mother to run for vice president.

Sen. Bam Aquino recently urged Leni’s daughters to share their mother with the country.

“Our parents have been politicians our entire lives, so we are not selfish to say that we don’t want to give our mom to the country,” Tricia said.

Leni failed to attend the launch of the Tsinelas Leadership Awards 2015 because she has another engagement in Cavite.

 Tricia said the Tsinelas Leadership Awards 2015 aim to honor five mayors who have continued the legacy of their father.

Jesse Robredo had served as mayor of Naga City and was often seen wearing a pair of slippers while going around his hometown, mingling with constituents.