FILE PHOTO: Vice President Leni Robredo announces her decision to run for president in the 2022 national elections. Screengrab from OVP/Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday said that if Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wins the presidency in the May elections, people can expect the country to revert to the dark days of his father’s dictatorship.
During the DZBB presidential interviews, Robredo was asked if her real motivation to run for president was on a platform based on preventing the return of the Marcoses’ to the ultimate seat of power – as she had pronounced prior to finalizing her decision to run in the upcoming polls.
Robredo emphasized anew that this year’s elections are not only about her or Marcos Jr. but actually about the politics that the Marcos family represents.
“Ito kasi ‘yong dahilan kung bakit sinabi ko ‘to: everything they represent. Alam natin ‘yong pinanggalingan natin during the dictatorship, alam natin ‘yong sobrang korapsyon, alam natin ‘yong sobrang misgovernance, alam natin ‘yong klase ng pulitika na inumpisahan,” she said.
“‘Pag nakabalik sila sa posisyon gano’n din ‘yong aasahan natin. So ang tanong ko, gusto ba natin ‘yon? Kasi klaro naman ‘yong lines ngayon eh, ano ba ‘yong nire-represent namin? Para sa akin itong eleksyon na ito, hindi na lang tungkol ito sa who is the better candidate pero what do we represent, anong klaseng pamamahala, anong klaseng pulitika,” she added.
The Vice President said the 2022 presidential election is also crucial because it would determine the country’s direction and situation in the next six years.
“Ito ‘yong magdedetermine ng next six years para sa ating bansa. So iyon ‘yong paniniwala ko na ‘pag bumoboto tayo sa isang tao, hindi lang ‘yon kung sa akin o kay Marcos, pero kung anong klase ng pulitika saka pamamahala na inooffer nila sa taumbayan,” she noted.
In September 2021, before the filing of certificates of candidacy, Robredo said that part of the reason why she was undecided about running is that she was thinking if that move would foil a possible return of the Marcoses or a leadership style similar to President Rodrigo Duterte.
Back then, Duterte’s daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has not yet finalized her next political move and was rumored to also run for the president like Marcos Jr.
READ: Robredo still mulling if 2022 candidacy is best to foil Marcoses’ return to power
Marcos Jr.’s father, late former president Ferdinand Marcos, ruled the country for over two decades – a presidency that was marred by serious issues like human rights abuses, a crackdown on political opponents, massive plunder, and cronyism or the practice of providing allies with major industries in the country.
READ: Marcos’ martial law: Golden age for corruption, abuses
Eventually, both Robredo and Marcos Jr. made their candidacies for president official – setting up another battle between the two, like in 2016 for the vice presidency.
The latest Pulse Asia survey, however, showed Robredo at a distant second if the presidential elections were held from December 1-6, getting only 20 percent of the votes compared to Marcos Jr.’s 53 percent.
READ: Pulse Asia’s December survey: Marcos and Duterte-Carpio team is top choice
Robredo admitted that they still have a lot to do because initially, they were not prepared to launch a presidential campaign with her late decision to join the race.
“Marami pa, marami pa actually ang kailangan, ang problema ko kasi hindi kami nakapag-handa nang mas maaga, kasi hindi ko naman talaga plinano kumandidato. So ang kailangan naming gawin, siguraduhin na katotohanan ‘yong lumalabas,” she said.
“Mahirap ito dahil alam natin na ‘yong social media works on algorithms, maraming mga kababayan natin ang hindi natin ma-blame kung naniniwala kasi ang source of news nila nabu-blur na talaga ‘yong kasinungalingan sa katotohanan. So ‘yong pinaka-challenge ngayon, papaano mag-reach out sa mga kababayan natin at maipahayag kung ano ang totoo,” she added.