She said she was joking but Vice President Leni Robredo seemed to have packed a punch against Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa when she responded to the top cop’s suggestion that she was in a hurry to become president.

A day earlier on Tuesday, October 16, Dela Rosa said in a media forum that he had no problem with Robredo seeking the presidency, but she should “let” President Rodrigo Duterte finish his term first, as if to suggest that the Vice President wanted to oust Duterte so she could take over.

Duterte himself had warned of declaring a revolutionary government due to destabilization threats.

Asked about Dela Rosa’s statement, Robredo said in a media interview on Tuesday, October 17: “Actually, natawa ako doon sa statement. Ang biro ko nga, malalaman siguro ni General (dela Rosa) na may ambisyon ako (mag-Presidente) kapag meron na rin akong mascot saka meron na rin akong mga standee sa mga mall.”

(Actually, I found that statement funny. I joked that the General will know I have ambitions [to be president] once I also have a mascot and a standee in the malls.)

She was referring to the PO1 Bato mascot that the PNP Community Relations Group launched last year, made in the likeness of the police chief. There is also a puppet version of the PNP chief, and also his standees in some business establishments.

The PNP chief has openly admitted whenever he’s asked that he wants to run for senator in 2019. He is due to retire in January 2018. (READ: PNP chief Dela Rosa ‘open’ to 2019 Senate run)

Robredo quipped that the fact that she had no mascot or standee showed that the presidency or the next elections was far from her mind. She had too much work to think of anything else, she said.

“Pero hanggang wala pa akong mascot at standee sa mall. Gustong sabihin, hindi ko pa inaambisyon. Napakaraming oras ang kailangan natin para magtrabaho para isipin ang susunod na eleksyon,” the Vice President said.

(Until now I don’t have a mascor and a standee in malls. This means to say that I’m not aspiring for it yet.  There’s so much time needed for all the work that we have to do for us to even think of the next elections.) – Rappler.com