People’s rally in Diocesan Formation Center, Malaybalay City, February 23, 2022. Image from VP Leni Robredo / Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — Allies of Vice President Leni Robredo are expecting more “dirty tricks and propaganda” against their camp as the presidential elections draw near.
Robredo’s allies issued the remark amid allegations of the presence of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) legal fronts during the grand rally of Robredo and running mate, vice presidential candidate Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, in Cavite.
Senatorial candidate Alex Lacson said other camps are “feeling the heat that’s why they are going full throttle with propaganda to counter the vice president’s advance.”
“It’s a traditional politician’s strategy to pull down the leading rival,” Lacson, who is running under the tandem of Robredo and vice-presidential candidate Francis Pangilinan, said in a statement.
“Maliwanag na ‘yan ay propaganda. Wala silang mahanap sa aming kandidatong si VP Leni, sa kanyang pagkatao, sa kanyang track record, kaya maghahanap ng ibang issue,” he added.
Meanwhile, senatorial candidate Teddy Baguilat said that the “dirty tricks” started as early as 2016 to divert the public’s attention from real issues.
Baguilat added that the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem does not have an alliance with communists even as they are open to “peace talks to resolve the insurgency problem.”
“The more they put her down, the more that people are seeing her,” Baguilat said.
The campaign manager of the Robredo-Pangilinan senatorial slate, former congressman Erin Tañada, said that “only aliens would mistake the hip, happy, and huge pink rallies for a communist revival party.”
“Sa rallies, ang daming taong Simbahan, maraming duktor, at pati millennials whose motto is to prosper ethically in a capitalist world,” Tañada said.
Robredo has since belied the claims that communists have infiltrated her campaign.