FILE Vice President Leni Robredo rallies her supporters during the grand rally held at the Plaza Quezon in Naga City on February 8. Image from VP Leni Robredo Media Bureau
MANILA, Philippines — The leadership of the Council of the Laity of the Philippines (CLP) has endorsed Vice President Leni Robredo for president, a move that the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called “unprecedented.”
“With our current political-economic turmoil and the pandemic situation in the Philippines, we firmly believe that Vice President Leni Robredo, a God-fearing person, is the most capable candidate for the presidency, and we urge our constituents, if possible, to consider the same,” the laity group said in a letter signed February 5 but only released over the weekend.
“Hence, we explicitly endorse Vice President Leni Robredo to the highest position of our land,” they added.
The CBCP, the organizational congregation of Catholic bishops in the country said the endorsement of its laity arm is “unprecedented.”
“In an unprecedented move, the leadership of the Council of the Laity of the Philippines has endorsed a presidential candidate in the person of Vice President Leni Robredo,” it said in a statement posted in its website.
Raymond Daniel Cruz Jr, national president of CLP, confirmed to INQUIRER.net in a text message that their group has never endorsed a candidate before, apart from Robredo.
After a “series of listening sessions” and “personal evaluations,” CLP said its current leadership has reached a majority decision.
Eleven out of 15 officers voted to endorse Robredo, three abstained and one was absent.
The group said that one officer voted ‘yes with reservations’ on their endorsement of Robredo due to her stance on SOGIE, same sex civil union, and decriminalization of abortion.
Robredo earlier said she is in favor of SOGIE bill and same sex civil union, while also expressing openness on the discussion to decriminalize abortion.
“Though there are still other issues which need further dialogue and cooperation, we are of the opinion that Vice President Leni Robredo, based on her track-record of service, dedication to good governance, ability to implement partnerships and programs for the advancement of the people especially the marginalized and her unassailable integrity, bested the others,” they said.
To recall, 569 Filipino priests, nuns, religious brothers, and deacons also expressed their support for Robredo and her running mate Senator Francis Pangilinan.