MANILA—Vice-President Leni Robredo on Friday said she has no intention to unseat President Rodrigo Duterte and install herself in Malacañang, and that the chief executive more or less believes that.
"Tingin ko, ito hula ko lang, ’pag nakikita ako ni Presidente tingin ko ramdam niya naman na hindi ako threat. Wala naman akong pagnanasa to wrestle power from him gaya ng pino-portray ng iba. So tingin ko ramdam niya ’yun," Robredo said during a DZMM interview.
(I think when the President sees me he feels I’m no threat. I have no desire to wrestle power from him the way others portray me. I think that’s how he feels.)
Robredo said her relationship with Duterte has remained "very civil," despite her being repeatedly linked to an alleged plot to oust him.
"’Pag nagkikita kami very civil naman. May conversation naman. Nangungumusta siya. In fact the last time we saw each other was the (Philippine Military Academy) graduation," Robredo said.
(When we see each other we're very civil. There are conversations sometimes. In fact, we even saw each other during the last PMA graduation.)
Ties between the 2 leaders grew frosty after Robredo resigned in 2016 as Duterte's Housing secretary, citing "major differences" with the President and suspicions that a plot was underway to unseat her.