VP Leni denies links to anti-EJK group ‘Tindig Pilipinas’

Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday distanced herself from the "Tindig Pilipinas" movement, which is led by a group calling for an end to the spate of killings related to President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs.

Robredo made the clarification more than a week after she attended a Mass organized by the group on September 21, the national day of protest marking the 45th anniversary of Martial Law declared by former president Ferdinand Marcos.

“Hindi ako kabahagi sa Tindig Pilipinas. Naimbita ako, kasama iyong iba pang kasama sa laban dati sa Martial Law," she said in an ambush interview in Naga City, of which the transcript was sent to reporters.

"Mahalaga iyong misang iyon para sa akin kasi iyon iyong paggunita noong mahabang panahon ng pakikipaglaban. At kailangan nating siguraduhin na iyong aral na napulot natin noong Martial Law, aral pa din siyang hanggang ngayon, para hindi maulit sa bansa natin iyong dilim na sinapit natin noong kapanahunan," she added.

She was seen at the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice at UP Diliman with several members of the Liberal party, including former President Benigno Aquino III, Senators Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan, Bam Aquino and former senator Mar Roxas.

"Pero hindi ako bahagi ng Tindig Pilipinas. Tingin ko kasi mas mabuti sana na iyong mga grupong ganiyan, parang organic na manggagaling sa ordinaryong tao, na hindi pinapakialaman ng mga pulitiko," Robredo added.

Tindig Pilipinas was launched on September 18, fronted by Senators Risa Hontiveros, Antonio Trillanes IV, and Francis Pangilinan. — Margaret Claire Layug/MDM, GMA News