VP Leni: Some partners help OVP secretly fearing political backlash

Vice President Leni Robredo said Saturday that some institutions that have partnered with her office's anti-poverty program Angat Buhay would prefer to help quietly in secret.

During an interview with Fr. Jerome Secillano on Radyo Veritas on Saturday, Robredo said that some partners ask that their institutions' names not be published because they are too scared of political backlash for being associated with the Office of the Vice President (OVP). 

"Actually na-exceed iyong expectations namin. Hindi namin alam na ganito kadami iyong gustong tumulong. Pero iyong reality niyan, mayroong mga takot. Takot na ma-associate sa akin, kasi baka may backlash, political backlash na mararamdaman," she said.

"So tumutulong quietly, ayaw i-publish iyong pangalan, which is understandable. Sa akin naman, Father, ang importante lang naman na matulungan iyong community," she added.

Robredo said that the fear of these institutions are not unfounded and so she understands their positions.

"Tingin ko founded, kasi maraming examples na nakaramdam ng panggigipit, kapag may interpretation na mayroong political bias na dini-display. So sa akin, iniintindi natin iyong mga posisyon ng mga kumpanya, ng mga organisasyon," she said.

"Iyong mahalaga lang sa atin, mapunta iyong tulong sa dapat mapuntahan. Pero marami din iyong walang takot," she added. —Jessica Bartolome/LBG, GMA News