Robredo on Duterte Staring at Her, "Siguro Nga May Crush sa Akin ang Presidente!"

President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo sat beside each other on Sunday, March 18. This time, both them attended the graduation rites of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Alab Tala Class of 2018 held in Baguio City. VP Robredo arrived first on stage, and the president shook her hand when he went onstage.

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Duterte, being the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), is the guest of honor and speaker at the rites, where he awarded the presidential saber to Cadet First Class Jaywardene Galilea Hontoria who was the valedictorian of the class of 282 mistahs. The president also gave him a house and lot in his hometown in Iloilo City.

Hontoria, a registered nurse and join the Philippine Navy, as also given the Philippine Navy Saber, awarded to him by Rear Admiral Robert Empedrad, flag officer-in-command of the Philippine Navy. He was also awarded the Chief of Staff Saber for being the brigade commander of the Cadet Core of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

On the other hand, VP Robredo awarded the vice presidential saber to Cadet First Class Ricardo Liwaden, the salutatorian of the PMA Class 2018. Apparently, the said event was the first time this year that Duterte and Robredo appeared in public together. As we all know, the vice president belongs to the Opposition, the Liberal Party (LP).

But as local media covered the event, a photo of President Duterte staring at VP Robredo went viral on social media. This led to various speculations from Duterte supporters and critics. But for the vice president, she said she was not offended, saying that she got used to be stared at by president every time they see each other.

“Alam nyo, sanay na ako sa kanya. Alam naman nating humahanga siya sa mga babae so bale wala sa akin yun. Kinamayan pa nga niya ako at kinumusta bago kami umupo. Yung tingin niya sa akin nung naka upo na kami, alam ko yun.” VP Robredo told reporters hours after the event, and later joked, “Siguro nga may crush sa akin ang Presidente!”



During last year’s PMA rites, the two leaders sat one seat apart. But in November 2016, President Duterte admitted staring at Robredo’s legs during Cabinet meetings. That time, Robredo was the Chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC). But come December, Duterte fired Robredo from her post.

Contributed by Renato Pasayao