Choices reflect values, says Robredo after Moreno picks Duterte for senator

Vice President Leni Robredo visits Baguio City. Image from Facebook / VP Leni Robredo

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday said that while presidential aspirants are free to pick whoever would join their respective senatorial slates, the choices they make are reflective of their values and aspirations.

Speaking to reporters during a press conference in Baguio City, Robredo was asked about a presidential aspirant who was part of her unity talks before, but now claimed to be rooting for President Rodrigo Duterte’s senatorial bid in the 2022 national elections.

“Karapatan naman niya ‘yon, kaparatan namang piliin kung sino ‘yong gusto mong makasama, pero ‘yong choices naman not just for the slate, ‘yong choices naman nating lahat laging reflection siya ng aspirations natin,” said Robredo, who is also running for president.

“Lagi siyang reflection ng values na pinapaliwaan natin,” she added.

Aside from that, Robredo said that popularity and winnability are not the only important aspects of a candidacy; rather, it is what a candidate can contribute to the government and for the next administration.

“So ‘yong sa akin, hindi lang naman ‘yong popularity and winnability ang pinaka-mahalaga, ang pinaka-mahalaga ‘yong ma-communicate mo ‘yong gusto mong mangyari, bakit nagkakandidato, ano ‘yong mako-contribute mo sa susunod na administrasyon,” she explained.

While the presidential aspirant in question was unnamed, it was Manila Mayor Isko Moreno who earlier said that he will vote for Duterte in the senatorial race, adding that he is also open to endorse the Chief Executive and would include him in his senatorial slate — if Duterte obliges.

Moreno’s statement on Monday aligned with his previous remark that he is hopeful that Duterte would endorse him since his close ally, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, already announced his intention to bow out from the presidential race.

Aksyon Demokratiko, the political party of Moreno, said that they are standing behind his decision to support Duterte’s senatorial bid, saying that they have taken a centrist approach.

Proud of her own slate

According to Robredo, she is proud of the senatorial slate that they have built for the 2022 elections, as it features candidates like former Rep. Teddy Baguilat and Senator Leila de Lima — individuals who have worked for their respective causes.

“The reason why I said earlier na very proud ako of the kind of slate that I have is because pinag-isipan ito, pinag-isipan and each one of them can contribute to the goal of, you know, having a set policies that redound to the benefit of the people,” Robredo said.

“Halimbawa ‘yong example ko kanina, si Congressman Teddy Baguilat, hindi lang IP (indigenous people’s rights) ‘yong kanyang sinusulong, pero environment.  Halimbawa, Senator Leila de Lima, kahit nasa kulungan, has been contributing in whatever way she can pagdating sa usapin ng justice,” she added.

Before both Robredo and Moreno filed their respective certificates of candidacy, the two were in talks over a possibly unity slate.  However, talks fell, according to Robredo, as there were key issues that she and other aspirants failed to agree on.

Moreno in the past has been tagged by some reports as Duterte’s secret candidate — a claim which he denied.

On one occasion, Moreno even said that technically, he is not Duterte’s candidate because he is running under Aksyon Demokratiko which was founded by late senator Raul Roco.

EDV