Whos your VP? GRACE, LENI, GIBO EYED AS RODY RUNNING MATE By Manny Pinol Butuan City - After making a hint that he might run for President if its Gods will, questions on who would be his ideal Vice Presidential running mate were immediately posed on Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte. The question was raised during a press conference which followed his speech during the Federalism Forum in this city yesterday where the 69-year-old colorful and controversial Mayor of the countrys safest city hinted that he might yet consider the Presidency. I will yield to Gods will, Duterte declared yesterday, a statement which was radical departure from his earlier pronouncements that he would shoot people who were pushing him for the Presidency. Duterte downplayed the question saying Its too early to talk about that. We will get there. I will let you know. Among Dutertes circle of supporters who have been pushing him to consider the Presidency, however, the names of former presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro, Senator Grace Poe, and political neophyte Congresswoman Leni Robredo of Naga City have been talked about. Those pushing for Teodoro, a close friend of Duterte, said the former defense secretary would be an ideal Vice President for the tough-talking Davao City Mayor because he exudes level-headedness and is a brilliant lawyer. Teodoro, they said, could be a reliable partner for Duterte in critical decision-making especially on issues of defense and security. Grace Poe supporters in the Duterte camp, on the other hand, cite the young senators charismatic personality and her calm demeanor. Grace could be a softening factor for Rody, said Poes endorsers. There are also personalities very close to Duterte who believe that to emphasize and give meaning to the Davao City Mayors earlier statement that he would like a fresh start for Philippine governance, a new face like Camarines Sur Congresswoman Leni Robredo is the ideal vice presidential running mate. A political neophyte, Cong. Robredo, widow of the well-loved former Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo who died in a place crash in 2012, is perceived as the perfect Vice President for Duterte. She has the aura of a plain and simple housewife thrust into the political limelight because of a tragedy and she has embraced the personality of her late husband who was known for his tsinelas governance, a Robredo supporter in the Duterte camp explained. There are, however, problems standing in the way of Dutertes possible partnership with the three. Gilbert Teodoro has reportedly declared that he has given up on politics, Grace Poe is herself touted to be a presidential contender and may not settle for the Vice Presidency while Leni Robredo belongs to the Liberal Party and may not agree to be the vice presidential candidate to somebody who does not belong to her party. The biggest problem which must be addressed, however, is the fact that while Duterte has hinted that he may consider the Presidency, he has not categorically stated that he has accepted the call of the people to lead the country. Vice President to who?, everybody in the Duterte camp agrees, is the question which must first be answered. (Grace Poe, Leni Robredo and Gilbert Teodoro file photos downloaded from google)
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 04:12:05 +0000