Why not Marcos Jr. in Eleksyon 2022? Leni says he's a liar

Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday said that the Filipino people should not vote for ex-senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. because he is a liar.

"Number one, sinungaling. Pangalawa, in the difficult moments, hindi siya nagpapakita," Robredo said when asked why voters should not go for Marcos in an interview with TV host Boy Abunda.

(First, he is a liar. Second, he does not show up during difficult moments.)

Marcos skipped the Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews over the weekend and claimed Soho was biased against his family.

GMA Network has refuted this and cited Soho's track record of being a brilliant and trusted journalist who asks tough questions given that the presidency is a tough job.

Robredo was also asked why the voters should not vote for her other rivals in the presidential race, namely Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Senator Ping Lacson and Senator Manny Pacquiao.

"Hindi klaro yung paninindigan sa maraming bagay (His position on many things is unclear)," Robredo said of Moreno.

As for Lacson, Robredo said the former police chief is big on talk but lacks ground action.

"Maraming salita, pero sa ground kulang," she said.

And while Robredo praised Pacquiao for having a good heart, the Vice President said it was not enough.

"Ito malungkot ito, Boy, pero yung kabutihan ng loob kasi sa atin, hindi sapat (I am sad to say, Boy, but having a good heart is not enough.)

Robredo earlier said during the Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews that if she was not a candidate, she will vote for Pacquiao because the world champion boxer turned lawmaker is sincere in his intention to serve the people.

Robredo said she deserves the vote of the people because she has proven her mettle during the COVID-19 pandemic with her office filling in gaps in the government's pandemic response.

She said the Office of the Vice President has programs on free antigen test, free telemedicine services and provision of dormitories, shuttle service and personal protective equipment for health workers, among others.

"Ako, Boy, pinakita ko nitong krisis na ito, and many other crises in the past, na ang mga babaeng leader nagsha-shine during crisis. And pinakita ko iyan sa maraming trabaho namin dito sa OVP (Office of the Vice President), marami kaming mga krisis na nalagpasan with flying colors," she said.

(I have shown that just like in many other crises in the past, a woman can shine under the toughest of times. This can be seen in our work, and we hurdled the crisis in flying colors.)

"Sabi ko nga, kung yung 2016 until 2022, the last man standing is still a woman (Just like I have said in 2016, in 2022, the last man standing is a woman.)

In response, Atty. Vic Rodriguez, Marcos' chief of staff and spokesperson, said the former senator "does not and will not engage in negative and hateful campaigning."

"What presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos is offering to the Filipino people is his unifying brand of leadership," Rodriguez said in a statement. —LDF/KBK, GMA News