BY WENDELL VIGILIA and ASHZEL HACHERO
VICE President Leni Robredo on Wednesday night took potshots at her rivals in this year’s presidential race but she particularly warned the people against voting for former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos (BBM) for allegedly being a “liar” who she said is always missing in action when the going gets tough.
Marcos’ camp said he will not engage in negative campaigning.
“What presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos is offering to the Filipino people is his unifying brand of leadership. He does not and will not engage in negative and hateful campaigning,” Marcos’ chief of staff and spokesman Vic Rodriguez said in a statement.
Robredo, the opposition presidential aspirant, made the comments during an interview with showbiz talk show host Boy Abunda who asked her why voters should not vote for her rival candidates.
“No. 1, sinungaling. Pangalawa, in the difficult moments, hindi siya nagpapakita (No. 1, a liar. Second, he is nowhere to be seen in difficult moments),” Robredo said of Marcos, son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
While the Vice President was not able to elaborate on her comments because the time for “political fast talk” was limited, she has been consistent in opposing the Marcos family’s plan to return to power and the scheme to revise the country’s history.
Robredo beat Marcos in the 2016 vice presidential race by a slim margin. Marcos is leading Robredo in presidential surveys.
Robredo said voters should vote for her because she was able to to prove that women leaders like her can do a huge difference when faced with challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This crisis and many other crises in the past have shown that female leaders shine during a crisis, and I was able to show that with our work in the Office of the Vice President. We were able to overcome many crises with flying colors,” she said in Filipino.
Robredo also did not pull her punches when Abunda asked her why Filipinos should not vote for the other presidential aspirants.
“Maraming salita pero kulang sa on the ground na gawa (He talks a lot but is lacking in groundwork),” she said of Sen. Panfilo Lacson with whom Robredo initially tried by failed to form a unified opposition ticket.
The Vice President said Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, who was also part of unification talks, remains vague on his stand on many issues but was not able to cite one.
“Hindi klaro ‘yung paninindigan sa maraming issue (His stand on many issues is unclear),” she said of the mayor, with whom the OVP partnered in their COVID-19 vaccination drive in Manila.
Robredo took a brief pause when Abunda asked her why the people should not vote for Sen. Emmanuel Pacquiao, and said having good intentions is not enough to lead the country.
“Ito malungkot ito, pero ‘yong kabutihan ng loob kasi sa atin hindi sapat (This is sad but having good intentions isn’t enough),” she said.
‘NO EPAL’
Lacson, on Twitter Wednesday night, took exception to Robredo’s statement.
“Hindi ako kulang sa ‘on the ground.’ Hindi lang talaga ako ma-epal tuwing magbibigay ng tulong sa mga kalamidad man o sa mga indibiduwal na tulong (I do not lack action on the ground. It is just that I am not a showboat each time I extend help to the needy),” Lacson said in his Twitter account.
He said Abunda’s questioning is actually “a test of his interviewee’s character.”
Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Lacson’s running mate, came to his partner’s rescue also via Twitter.
“Is that what it is called? Lacking action when you disciplined the PNP, fought corruption, crafted important measures in his 18 years as legislator. That’s new to me!” Sotto said in Filipino.
‘RUFFLED FEATHERS’
Robredo, in an interview yesterday, said while she was well aware that her candid comments would surely “ruffle some feathers,” she still chose to be honest.
“Ako ayoko nang dagdagan pa, ayoko nang dagdagan pa ‘yung conversation. Alam ko na may mga mara-ruffle ako na feathers pero tinatanong kasi ako e (I don’t want to add more to conversation. I know that I will have ruffled some feathers but I was asked),” she told reporters on the sidelines of the OVP’s Swab Cab program in Tanay, Rizal.
Robredo said she is prepared for whatever reactions her comments would elicit from her rivals.
“Ayoko naman na sumagot na parang umiiwas, sa akin lang ‘yung tanong, sinagot ko (I didn’t want to answer evasively. I was asked and I answered),” she said.
Ready naman ako, ready ako pero para mag-react pa sa mga reaction nila, tingin ko hindi naman necessary na (I’m ready for that but to react to their reactions? I don’t think that’s necessary anymore),” she said.
WPS ISSUE
Pacquiao, meanwhile, said he will send more coast guard personnel and equipment to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) for the protection of local fishermen who are always bullied by the Chinese in the West Philippine Sea if he wins in this year’s elections.
“Lahat ng mangingisda gusto ko malaya silang nangingisda sa ating teritoryo at ang gagawin natin pabantayan natin ng mga coast guard natin para di sila takutin, hindi paalisin, ipagtabuyan, wag tayo magpapa bully, wag tayo pansindak sa mga ganyan dahil atin ito, bansa natin ito (I want that our fishermen can freely fish within our territory and what we will do is to send our coast guard so they [fishermen] cannot be bullied, driven away. Let us not be frightened with those kinds of actions because this is our country),” Pacquiao said in dzBB’s “ikaw na ba?” presidential interviews.
When asked how the Coast Guard can keep an eye on local fishermen considering its limited ships and equipment, Pacquiao said he will have to increase the agency’s budget so it can procure additional vessels.
In the same interview, Pacquiao said he will also push for a law against political dynasty if elected president, despite having brothers who are also elected officials.
Pacquiao’s brother Rogelio is a representative of Sarangani province, while his other brother Alberto is a representative of the OFW Family partly list. His wife Jinkee also became Sarangani vice governor.
He sees no problem asking Congress to pass a measure prohibiting political dynasties because he believes that “pagdating ng panahon, kung ano ang gusto ng pangulo ay magagawa naman siguro (time will come when the president’s wishes might be granted).” — With Raymond Africa
