READ: Robredo: 'I'm getting used to the President' | getupdatedph

Tacloban City (CNN Philippines) — Vice President Leni Robredo found the subject of her love life as the icebreaker in what could have been a somber speech by President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday.

Robredo was with Duterte for activities commemorating the third year since super typhoon Yolanda (international code name: Haiyan) struck Tacloban. The city, which is the capital of the province of Leyte, was ground zero of the most powerful storm ever to hit land.

Duterte told the crowd of her involvement in the rehabilitation of the typhoon-ravaged city as the head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.

"You guys, you take your orders from her," he said. "And the same order that she’s supposed to finish her job on time.”

Duterte then kidded with Robredo about her love life.

"Sa bagay, pupunta rin ako dito kasi nandito si Vice President eh," he said. "Kung saan siya nagpunta, nagpasunod-sunod ako."

[Translation: Besides, I would come here because the Vice President is here. Wherever she goes, I follow.]

"Ma’am, balita ko may boyfriend ka na?," Duterte said, addressing Robredo, who shook her head and smiled.

"Do not be offended, pero ‘yung sabi nila hindi ‘yun totoo? Kung totoo ‘yun, Ma’am, eh magpatay na congressman na ba ako para ma-biyuda uli,” he added.

[Translation: Ma'am, I heard that you have a boyfriend already? Do not be offended, but they said that wasn't true? If that were true, should I kill a congressman so that you would be a widow again?]

The Vice President was widowed in 2012 when her husband, former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, died in a plane crash.

During the President’s speech, Robredo was on stage with other government officials including her rival for Vice President, former senator Bongbong Marcos. This was the first time they shared the stage since the vice presidential debate in March.

Tacloban is also the hometown of Marcos' mother, Imelda.

Speaking to reporters after the event, Robredo said she was getting used to the President's teasing.

"Actually, nasasanay na ako kay Presidente," she said. "Parati ako nagiging pulutan. Gaya ng sabi niya, pabirong pagsabi."
[Translation: Actually, I'm getting used to the President. I'm always picked on. As he said, it was said as a joke.]
Saddened by Marcos burial decision

Robredo also told reporters that she was saddened by the Supreme Court's decision on Tuesday to allow the burial of the late President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

"Nirerespeto naman natin yung Supreme Court, pero malungkot," she said. "From the very start naman, pinahayag ko na yung opposition ko dun. Tingin ko kasi, hindi ito isang legal issue lang. It's also a moral one. Yung repercussions nito in the future, napakalaki."

[Translation: We respect the Supreme Court, but it's so sad. From the very start, I already expressed my opposition to the burial. I think this isn't just a legal issue. It's also a moral one. The repercussions of this in the future are huge.]

CNN Philippines Senior Correspondent Ina Andolong contributed to this report.







SOURCE: CNN Philippines

WATCH: Albuera Mayor Espinosa shot at police: official | getupdatedph

Mayor Rolando Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte shot at police before he was killed by authorities, an official said Saturday.
Using .45-caliber pistols, Espinosa and fellow slain inmate Raul Yap fired shots while they were being served a search warrant at the Baybay Provincial Jail in Leyte by operatives of the PNP's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Region 8.

"Silang dalawa ang nagpapautok sa operatiba natin at napilitan po yung mga operatiba natin na gumanti at ito po yung nagresulta na ikinamatay ng mga suspek," said CIDG Region 8's Supt. Melvin Marcos.

[The two of them fired shots, prompting operatives to fire back, which resulted in their death.]
Marcos said they received information that Yap was dealing drugs inside the provincial jail, prompting them to seek a warrant from a judge.

READ: Albuera Mayor Espinosa shot dead inside jail cell

The person sent to verify the claim confirmed the information and even found out that Espinosa was hiding a weapon inside his cell, he said.

With this, the judge issued warrants for both inmates Friday and the CIDG proceeded with the operation early Saturday.

Marcos, however, said they had encountered "resistance" from the jail upon arriving. When they were finally able to break through, he said Espinosa and Yap were ready to fire shots at them.

But no other inmate was hurt because operatives were able to tell them to duck, he said.

Marcos said they will be investigating the alleged non-cooperation of jail personnel and how the two inmates were able to sneak in drugs and weapons.

"Gaya po siguro ng mga droga, kung maipapasok ang mga droga sa loob po ng jail or Bilibid eh ganun din siguro ang proseso gaya ng pagpasok ng cellphone kung ganun lang po kadali yun hindi po imposible na yung baril maipasok din lalo din lagi dinedeklara ni mayor na under threat siya," he said.

[Maybe it's just like how drugs are usually brought into the New Bilibid Prison or maybe it's also how they sneak in cellphones, it shouldn't be impossible to do it with guns too, especially since the mayor has repeatedly said his life was in danger.]

Espinosa was among the politicians linked by President Rodrigo Duterte to the illegal drug trade.

He was arrested in October for illegal drug possession. After several days, his son Kerwin was nabbed in Abu Dhabi.

Police said a list of officials and other personalities who received drug money from Kerwin included Senator Leila de Lima, who was then a justice secretary.

READ: De Lima's name was on Espinosa's 'blue book,' cop says



SOURCE: ABS-CBN