Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday (April 7) slammed attempts to paint her readiness to assume the presidency as “eagerness” to take over the position, following President Rodrigo Duterte’s threat to declare a revolutionary government.

During her weekly radio show, Robredo stressed that she was merely responding to questions about her preparedness to carry out her mandate.

This comes after Duterte threatened to declare a revolutionary government to crack down on his critics. His remarks prompted legal experts to point out that if the President pushes through with his threat, Robredo will have to take over the presidency.

“Hindi naman tayo iyong nagsimula ng usapin. Actually, si Pangulo ang naggawa ng isang deklarasyon at tayo ay pinapa-komento lang doon,” she said.

Robredo also explained that Duterte’s plan of a revolutionary government was not similar with that of the late former President Corazon Aquino’s declaration.

“Noong panahon ni President Cory, ibang-iba iyong sitwasyon ngayon. Alam mo naman na noon, kagagaling lang natin sa EDSA Revolution. Iyong nakaupo na pangulo, umalis sa Pilipinas, inabandona iyong kaniyang propesyon. Mayroong kalituhan dahil dalawang pangulo iyong nanumpa—nanumpa si Presidente Cory dahil siya naman talaga iyong nanalo sa eleksyon, nanumpa din si dating Pangulong Marcos. So iba iyong sitwasyon noon,” she said.

“Noon, maraming kalituhan, kaya iyong kung naaalala natin, iyong pagdeklara ng revolutionary government, very limited time lang, ‘di ba? Talagang inayos lang iyong mga gusot, ipinasa na iyong 1987 Constitution,” she added.

Robredo, a lawyer by profession, again noted that declaring a revolutionary government would be unconstitutional, also adding that there are no circumstances that would warrant the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.

The Vice President then reiterated her call for public servants to remain prudent in words and actions, even in the face of criticisms.

“Iyong trabaho namin, talagang maraming kahirapan, marami talagang magte-test sa aming pasensya, maraming frustrations, marami kaming gustong gawin na hindi ganoon kadaling gawin dahil sa mga circumstances. Pero hindi dahil doon, hindi iyon ang nagbibigay sa amin ng lisensya para magsabi ng kung anong gusto naming sabihin kasi iyong sinasabi namin, parating may epekto sa ating bayan,” she said.