Robredo: Info on ‘corrupt’ presidential bet can help voters decide but it must be true

FILE PHOTO: Vice President Leni Robredo.

MANILA, Philippines — Information about an allegedly corrupt presidential aspirant coming from President Rodrigo Duterte will be of big help if the details offered are true, Vice President Leni Robredo said Wednesday.

Robredo said any information that would help people assess the capacity and integrity of candidates would be very welcome provided that those tips are accurate. She, however, urged vigilance over unverifiable details and expressed caution against disinformation.

“Parati naman nating welcome ‘yung information na totoo. Kasi nakakatulong siya sa tao, sa pag-assess ng capacity, ng integrity ng mga kandidato,” the presidential aspirant said in an ambush interview in Basilan where the Office of the Vice President brought assistance to local weavers on Wednesday.

(We always welcome information as long as they are true. Because it can help people assess the capacity and integrity of candidates.)

“Ngayon na age of disinformation, lalo na dahil may social media, maraming pino-post, na yung mga nagpo-post anonymous at wala namang accountability. Na-bombard tayo ng napakaraming disinformation na ‘yung paniniwala talaga natin, ‘pag tama ‘yung impormasyon na pinanggagalingan, may accountability, eto ‘yung mas mabuti para sa tao,” she added.

(In this age of disinformation, especially with the presence of social media, a lot of things are being posted by anonymous accounts which means they have no accountability. We get bombarded by so much disinformation but it is our belief that if the information we get is right and comes from those with accountability, these are information that will be good for the people.)

Robredo issued the remarks after Duterte’s Talk to the People on Tuesday, where he said he would name the “most corrupt” among presidential aspirants before the May 9 elections as part of his obligation as head of state.

Robredo asserted that the source of such information would not matter – whether it will come from the President or the public – as long as the material is verified or verifiable and if the person disclosing the details takes accountability for it.

Does she worry that Duterte might launch criticisms against her during his reveal? Robredo said she does not feel the need to defend herself as her work and track record could speak for themselves.

It could be remembered that in November 2020, Duterte warned that he will be Robredo’s nightmare if she pursues the presidency in 2022.  The Vice President only shrugged it off after announcing her intention to run in October 2021, saying it is not her problem.

“Ako kasi unang-una, hindi ko kailangan depensahan ‘yung sarili ko dahil ‘yung ginagawa ko naman, ‘yung track record ko ‘yung aking resibo. Hindi ko kailangang makipag-away, hindi ko kailangang mag-press release para sabihing hindi totoo ‘yung sinasabi,” Robredo said.

(I think first and foremost, I do not need to defend myself because with what I have been doing, my track record is my receipt.  I do not need to engage in quarrels, I do not need to make press releases to say that what is being accused of me is not true.)

“Yung sa akin, very consistent naman ako eh, ‘yung mga ginagawa ko hindi lang naman tuwing eleksyon. Pero ‘yung ginagawa ko may eleksyon o wala, may posisyon ako o wala, ‘yung consistency nandyan, so hindi ako bothered na may mga sinasabi tungkol sa akin kasi ultimately, ‘yung track record namin ‘yung resibo,” she added.

(I have been very consistent, the things I have done — I do it not only during elections. But the things I do with or without an election, with or without a seat in government, it has always been there, so I am not bothered if people say bad things about me because ultimately, our track record is our receipt.)

Duterte’s threat of naming corrupt presidential aspirants has elicited different reactions from various camps. Earlier, Partido Reporma spokesperson and former lawmaker Ashley Acedillo made a similar statement for the side of Senator Panfilo Lacson saying that accusations grounded on facts and evidence would be helpful in picking the right person to vote for.

READ: Lacson spox to Duterte: Why not file charges vs ‘most corrupt’ presidential bet?

But for another presidential aspirant, labor leader Leody de Guzman, Duterte is merely trying to make himself relevant as the President is already in his “lame duck” state with a few months to go before his term ends.

KGA