Robredo: Insults a ‘small price to pay’ for public service

The lies and insults hurled at her—and even her daughters who are not involved in politics—were a “small price to pay” for the opportunity to serve the public, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Sunday.

Robredo said she and her daughters have grown accustomed to being the subject of fake news and receiving low blows from trolls.

“Hindi ako magstu-stoop down sa level nila. Hindi ako magstu-stoop down sa kabastusan... Pero sa akin, sabi ko nga, grabe iyong mga pambabastos, pang-iinsulto, etcetera, pero small price to pay. Small price to pay sa pagkakataon na makapagsilbi kaya tutuloy lang tayo,” she said in her weekly radio show.

Robredo also said her daughters knew better than to engage with those who attacked them on social media.

“Marurunong mag-handle kung ano iyong mga dapat pag-aksayahan ng panahon. Tuluy-tuloy lang sila kagaya ko, mas quietly kasi mga hindi naman sila government officials,” she said.

Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte and his spokesman Harry Roque falsely accused Robredo and her daughters of starting and participating in the #NasaanAngPangulo trend that questioned the Chief Executive’s typhoon response.

Robredo later defended her daughters, whom she described as “outspoken and rightfully so.”

Daughter, friends raise P1-M

Meanwhile, Robredo said her youngest daughter Jillian, along with her classmates and friends, raised over P1 million for typhoon victims through the “Tayo Tayo” initiative.

Robredo said the donations went to residents of Pasacao, Camarines Sur, one of the areas hardest hit by storms that recently lashed the country.

“Namigay sila ng mga housing materials ngayon. Namimigay sila kasi iyong bunso kong anak nagkaroon din ng sariling fund drive iyong mga magkaka-klase at saka magkakaibigan. Naka-raise din sila, Ka Ely, ng I think more than a million pesos,” she said.

Typhoon Rolly claimed 25 lives while Typhoon Ulysses killed some 73 Filipinos, according to the national disaster management council. — DVM, GMA News