By Sammy F. Martin / Philippines News Agency
LIBERAL Party Rep. Maria Leonor G. Robredo of Camarines Sur on Friday said she is excited to work with President-elect Rodrigo R. Duterte after the Joint Congress, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), declared them winners in the 2016 elections.
The neophyte legislator, in an interview with local journalists in Naga City, could not hide her excitement after the NBOC finished its job tabulating the votes, where she edged out her closest rival, Sen. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., by more than 200,000 votes.
“Obligasyon ko po, hindi lang bilang susunod na pangalawang pangulo, pero obligasyon ko po bilang Filipino na ibigay ang 100-percent support ko sa kanya [Duterte]. Kasi ang kaniya naman pong success, hindi naman para sa kanya. Ang success niya ay para sa buong bansa,” Robredo said.
“Naging mahirap po iyong eleksyon, naging very divisive. Kinakailangan pong mag-rebuild tayo bilang isang bansa at kailangan po ni President Duterte ang tulong nating lahat,” she added.
Shortly after winning the race for the vice presidency, she said she was willing to accept a Cabinet position if offered by the next president.
Robredo said she has not spoken with Duterte specifically about the Cabinet position that will be delegated to her. She opts to wait for her proclamation before paying him a visit.
“Palagay ko po napaka-premature pa na makipagkita dahil hindi pa ako napo-proklama. Hihintayin ko po muna ang aking proklamasyon bago pumunta sa kaniya para magbigay ng aking kortesiya. Ayaw ko naman pong pangunahan,” she explained.
The NBOC finished the official tally of the votes for president and vice president at exactly 7:17 Friday night, after just four days of canvassing.
The NBOC’s official tally shows that Robredo finished with 14,418,817 votes, while Marcos had 14,155,344. Robredo led Marcos by only 263,473 votes.
Duterte came up with a huge margin against his rivals in the presidential race, garnering 16,601,997 votes.
Senate Canvassing Chairman Aquilino L. Pimentel III said Duterte and Robredo would be proclaimed early next week.