Did I impress you? Robredo asks critics

Thousands of volunteers, young and old alike, braved the scorching heat to attend the Calapan People’s Rally for presidential aspirant Leni Robredo, her running mate Senator Kiko Pangilinan, and other members of their senatorial slate at the Divine Word College of Calapan in Oriental Mindoro on Thursday, March 3. (VP Leni Media Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo clapped back at trolls and haters who accused her of cheating in last week’s CNN presidential debates.

Usually the type to ignore criticism, Robredo addressed in a Facebook post those who claimed she was given in advance the questions to be asked during the forum.

“Thank you, even though that’s not true. Gusto bang sabihin, nagalingan kayo sa sakin (Does that mean I impressed you)?” she said.

During the debate, Robredo enumerated her office’s COVID-19 projects and initiatives, speaking quickly to ensure she would be able to list them all within the 90-second time limit, spurring critics to suggest that her quick replies meant she had been briefed about the debate format and questions beforehand.

But a day after the debate, Robredo uploaded photos of notes she made during the event, which she used to organize her thoughts and to anticipate questions that might be asked. She also hit back at those who accused her of pulling a PR stunt when she was photographed walking barefoot after the debate because her feet hurt after wearing heels for three hours.

Robredo showed a photo from 2016, which showed her barefoot during an event marking her late husband’s birthday.

“This is something that regularly happens not just to me but to most women who are not used to wearing heels for a long time,” she said.

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