Robredo: Thank you, Mocha.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said that the vice president would be a ‘difficult choice’ for the vacancy. (Photo by VP Leni Robredo/Facebook)

Vice President Leni Robredo expressed her gratitude over the conducted online survey of the Assistant Communications Secretary of the Duterte administration, Mocha Uson.

“Nagpapasalamat din tayo kay Asec. Mocha Uson, na pagpapakita siguro na may tiwala na puwede tayong humawak ng ganyang kabigat na posisyon [I also thank Asec. Mocha for believing in our ability to handle the position],” the Vice President said yesterday in her weekly program BISErbisyong Leni.

In the online poll, Robredo is the public’s choice to be the next Secretary of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as she topped Uson’s online survey with 81% number of votes from the public.

“Mas malaki sigurong pagpapasalamat sa mga nagpahayag na ako iyong preference nila, kasi pag papakita na tinitiwalaan tayo sa ganitong larangan [I thank those who expressed that I am their preference, it just shows that we are trusted for this kind of position],” Robredo said.

The Vice President said she was shocked that her critic Mocha Uson included her in the choices.

“Unang una, medyo nagulat ako na sinama niya iyong pangalan ko. [First of all, I was surprised because my name was included],” she said.

Sinong gusto niyo ilagay sa DSWD?

— Mocha Uson Blog (@MochaUson) August 17, 2017

Tarlac Representative Monica “Nikki” Prieto-Teodoro and Department of Social Welfare Assistant Secretary Lorraine Badoy were also included in the choices of the poll. Prieto-Teodoro gained 2% of the public’s vote while Badoy got 6%. 11% voted for “Others”.

So far the Palace hasn’t announced any name to replace the former Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo who was rejected by the Commission on Appointments.

Meanwhile, Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said that the vice president would be a ‘difficult choice’ for the vacancy.

“I’m not saying ‘no’ for Leni. I’m just saying that it seems it will be a difficult choice.” Abella said during the press briefing in Malacanang.