‘Return to government still out of Robredo’s mind’

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo has yet to consider the possibility of returning to the government as she is currently focused on finishing her term and preparing for the non-government organization she intends to launch on July 1, her spokesperson said.

“As of now, the focus of VP Leni is to finish her term smoothly and have an orderly transition and closure of the programs of the OVP (Office of the Vice President) under her leadership,” Robredo’s spokesperson Barry Gutierrez said in Filipino during an interview with One PH’s “Sa Totoo Lang” on Wednesday night.

“She is also (preparing) to be a private citizen who will work as part of a civil society non-government organization (NGO) that will continue services for our countrymen. So right now, that is her focus. It is not yet on the horizon or agenda for her to consider a return to the government in whatever capacity,” he added.

Gutierrez was responding to a question on whether the Vice President would be open to accepting a Cabinet post if president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr., asks her to be part of his official family after the one-year ban on appointments for those who ran in the recent elections.

“It is difficult to answer because there is no offer yet and we do not know if that offer will happen… Right now, her focus is clearly the end of her term and starting a new chapter as head of Angat Buhay NGO,” Gutierrez said.

Robredo earlier announced her plan to launch Angat Buhay on July 1, a day after the end of her term, envisioning it to be the widest volunteer network in the country.

Gutierrez said they are still finalizing the details of the upcoming organization, particularly the areas of work that would be its focus.

“I cannot answer if projects such as Bayanihan E-Konsulta will be carried over (to Angat Buhay NGO), but definitely that is one that will be considered,” he said, referring to the OVP’s online medical consultation program that ended operations on Tuesday.

“What we want to happen is that the services given by VP Leni while she was vice president will be continued, even in a smaller scale… through the Angat Buhay NGO that we will launch,” he added.

He has said it would be up to vice president-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio if she would continue OVP programs initiated by Robredo.

especially since she will hold a Cabinet position under the incoming administration as Marcos’ education secretary.