Leni's social media basher apologizes for ‘vicious’ comment

The 16-year-old social media basher of Vice Presidential candidate and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo apologized for her post against the lawmaker in a report of GMA News' Mav Gonzales on “Unang Balita” on Thursday.

In a social media post, the student basher said she wished Robredo had died in a plane crash so she can join her late husband, former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo.

Jesse died in a plane crash in 2012 when he was on his way home in Naga City after attending a public function in Cebu City.

In an interview  during the same morning program this Thursday, Leni accepted the young woman's apology.

“Wala tayong kasalanan. Palalampasin na lang natin ito. Wala pa silang ginagawa, pinapatawad ko na sila,” she said.

Based on the unofficial and partial count, Leni has maintained a slim lead over Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos in the vice presidential race.

Leni pulled ahead of Marcos after several hours into the partial unofficial comelec tally.

“Nangunguna na si Marcos. Parang nadala lang po ako kasi pagkagising ko, sa survey nanonood ako ng balita lumamang po si Leni. Yun na impression ko. Yun pumasok sa isip ko. Twineet ko agad,“ the student said.

“Maam Leni, sorry po nasabi ko. Hindi ko naman po gusto mangyari sa inyo yon. Nadala lang po ako ng emosyon kasi nagulat ako sa biglang lamang sa botohan,” she added.

The young woman also apologized to the administrators of her school, the church and her friends.

The issue was raised by Leni, in an interview with Jessica Soho on GMA News TV's “State of the Nation,” when she revealed that she almost responded to a basher but she kept herself in check.

“Nung nanalo na ko, may nag-post sa Facebook. 'Napaka evil mo. Sana ikaw na lang yung nasa eroplanong bumagsak, hindi yung asawa mo',” Robredo said.

“Na-tempt na ako na sagutin, 'Hindi mo lang alam na nung bumagsak yung eroplano ng asawa ko, every day, every night, wini-wish ko na sana ako na lang yung nasa eroplanong yun',” Robredo added.

The student's father also issued an apology, saying “bilang ako tatay, humihingi ako ng sorry. Kasi siguro bata hindi alam yung ginagawa. Ang akala niya kantiyaw ay lumalaki.”

Meanwhile, the student's school St. Anthony Learning Institute of Quezon City also issued a statement:

Ang pamunuan ng St. Anthony Learning Institute of Quezon City ay walang kinalaman sa tweet ng isa sa aming mga dating estudyante laban kay Rep. Leni Robredo.

Hinubog namin nang maayos ang bata, at hindi siya tinuruang maging mapanira sa kapwa tao.

Hindi namin kinukunsinti ang maling ginawa ng bata kaya kami ang nagkusang kumausap sa kanya para magbigay siya ng public apology.

Nais din naming maalis ang negatibong pagtingin sa aming paaralan at sa bata. Hinihiling namin na huwag na rin idamay ang aming paaralan sa isyung ito.

The teenager said she has learned her lesson in this controversy.

“Mag-iisip na po ako bago ma-post ng kung ano-ano. Think before you click na po,” she said. — Bernadette Parco/LBG, GMA News