FILE PHOTO. Vice President Leni Robredo
MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-three Cabinet secretaries and senior officials under the administration of former President Fidel Ramos backed the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo in 2022 as they expressed grave concern over the “proliferation of misinformation, dubious promises and outright falsehoods” emerging ahead of the polls.
In a statement of support for Robredo’s candidacy dated January 12, the former officials said the incumbent vice president “can credibly lead us closer” to the “unified, humane, just, progressive, economically vibrant, sustainable and equitable society that is the dream of every Filipino.”
“We therefore enjoin our fellow Filipinos to support her candidacy, as we ourselves pledge our wholehearted commitment to do our share to help her become the next President of the Republic of the Philippines,” they said.
In expressing support for Robredo, they said they are “gravely concerned that the emerging campaign for the coming elections is being compromised by the proliferation of misinformation, dubious promises and outright falsehoods; deliberate thought manipulation especially via social media through the use of large numbers of fictitious accounts and mercenary troll armies; misuse of certain polls and surveys that may not necessarily reflect and represent true voter preferences.”
The ex-officials also raised alarm over the “continued patronage and money politics that have traditionally perpetuated undesirable dynasties and diverted people’s choices away from electing principled leaders.”
“We believe that the country sorely needs a leader who will inspire unity, solidarity and teamwork in government and among all Filipinos; empower our people, especially the disadvantaged and marginalized in society; and bring out the best of servant leadership in government officials and public servants by being the foremost example of integrity, dedication, professionalism, level-headedness, statesmanship, pursuit of excellence, hard work, and true caring and sharing for our fellow Filipinos,” they said.
“These are the leadership qualities that we directly witnessed President Ramos espouse and exemplify, and which we seek in the next President of our country,” they added.
‘Critical crossroads’
The 23 former officials said they see the upcoming polls as “a critical crossroads” for the Philippines, especially amid the “deep scars” inflicted by the pandemic on the country’s economy and society.
“The country needs to elect a leader who will lead us into the positive path to the unified, humane, just, progressive, economically vibrant, sustainable and equitable society that is the dream of every Filipino,” they said.
“We believe that Vice-President Leni Robredo is the only presidential candidate who possesses the above-described qualities, and who can credibly lead us Filipinos closer towards that dream,” they added.
Former National Economic and Development Authority chief Cielito Habito, one of the signatories of the statement, told INQUIRER.net that they had a “pleasant” one-hour Zoom meeting with Robredo last Monday, Jan. 10.
Another signatory, Milwida Guevara, a finance undersecretary during the Ramos administration, also confirmed the statement to INQUIRER.net.
‘Humbled’
Robredo said she was “humbled” by the support that the former Cabinet members and officials have expressed for her presidential bid.
“I look up to the leadership that FVR espoused, which I believe was affirmed by the brilliant people who served alongside him—matitino at mahuhusay,” she said in a tweet.
Humbled by the support of Cabinet members and senior officials of the Ramos administration. I look up to the leadership that FVR espoused, which I believe was affirmed by the brilliant people who served alongside him—matitino at mahuhusay. https://t.co/9FVArFxWNi
— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) January 13, 2022
Aside from Habito and Guevara, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, who served as justice secretary under the Ramos presidency, also signed the statement.
Other signatories include Angel Alcala and Victor Ramos, who headed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and former Presidential Assistant Benjamin de Leon.
The rest were:
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- Former Health Secretaries Jaime Galvez Tan and Carmencita Reodica
- Former Labor Secretaries Nieves Confesor and Jose Brillantes
- Former Tourism Secretaries Narzalina Lim and Vicente Carlos
- Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Roberto Romulo
- Former Finance Secretary Ramon del Rosario Jr.
- Former Agrarian Reform Secretary Ernesto Garilao
- Former Social Welfare and Development Secretary Lina Laigo
- Former Energy Secretary Delfin Lazaro
- Former Public Works and Highways Secretary Edmundo Mir
- Former Commission on Higher Education chairperson Ester Garcia
Robredo also gained support from Patricia Licuanan, who chaired the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (now the Philippine Commission on Women); Former National Statistic Office (now the Philippine Statistics Authority) Administrator Tomas Africa; former DENR Undersecretary Ben Malayang III; and former NEDA Deputy Director-General Dante Canlas.