Robredo on words vs. opponents: I knew answers would ruffle feathers

Published January 27, 2022 06:19 PM By RICHA NORIEGA,GMA News

Vice President Leni Robredo knew she would upset her fellow presidential aspirants when she answered the question why voters should not cast their votes for them in Eleksyon 2022.

Robredo, however, said she had to answer the question in a non-evasive manner.

Asked for comment on the reactions of Senator Panfilo Lacson, whom she said lacked "on-the-ground" activity; and former Senator Ferdinand Marcos, whom she called a liar, Robredo said, “Ako ayoko nang dagdagan pa, ayoko nang dagdagan pa ‘yung conversation."

"Alam ko na may mga mara-ruffle ako na feathers pero tinatanong kasi ako eh. Ayoko naman na sumagot na parang umiiwas. Sa akin lang ‘yung tanong, sinagot ko,” Robredo said in an interview in Tanay, Rizal.

[I don't want any more to add to the discussion. I knew I would ruffle feathers but I was asked the question and I didn't want to answer like I'm being evasive. I just answered the question.]

“In my honest opinion, ‘yun talaga ‘yung palagay ko na kailangan ko isagot. Ready naman ako, ready ako, pero para mag-react pa sa mga reaction nila, tingin ko hindi naman necessary na,” she added.

[In my honest opinion, that is really what I think I need to answer. I’m ready, but to react to in their reactions, I don't think it's necessary.]

Robredo on Wednesday was asked why people should not vote for the other presidential aspirants, particularly Marcos, Lacson, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and Senators Manny Pacquiao.

On Lacson, she said: "Maraming salita, pero on the ground, kulang."

However, Lacson reacted by saying he didn't lack action but her remark that he lacked action on the ground, saying he doesn't just show off his deeds.

“Hindi ako kulang sa ‘on the ground’. Hindi lang talaga ako ma-epal tuwing magbibigay ng tulong sa mga kalamidad man o sa mga indibidwal na tulong,” Lacson said in a Twitter post.

(I don’t lack on-the-ground action. I just don’t want to brag every time I help during calamities or to people in need.)

Meanwhile, Marcos Jr. will not engage in any "hateful campaigning"

following Robredo's remark that he is a liar, according to Marcos' spokesman Attorney Victor Rodriguez.

"What presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos is offering to the Filipino people is his unifying brand of leadership. He does not and will not engage in negative and hateful campaigning," Rodriguez said in a statement Wednesday night.

Eleksyon 2022 campaign amid COVID-19 threat

Robredo admitted challenges of physical campaigning in Eleksyon 2022 as the protocols changed in the current situations amid COVID-19 threat.

“Challenge siya para sa amin kasi halimbawa ‘yung pinaka problema namin ‘yung nagpaplano talaga ng activities on the ground, volunteers,” she said.

(This is a challenge for us because, for example, our biggest problem is those who actually plan activities on the ground, volunteers.)

“So ‘yung mga volunteers, humihingi, nire-request namin na kung pwede i-present sa amin ‘yung plano. Kasi gusto lang sana natin siguruhin na nagko-comply tayo with the protocols. Ang problema lang natin kasi, every so often, siyempre nagpapalit ‘yung protocols para din mag-adapt sa current situations,” she added.

(So the volunteers are asking, we are requesting that if the plan can be presented to us. Because we just want to make sure that we comply with the protocols. Our only problem is that, every so often, the protocols change to adapt to current situations.)

Ayudahan E-Konsulta in Zamboanga City

Robredo said the Office of the Vice President (OVP) supported the project of the Zamboanga City local government unit in the launching of the “Ayudahan E-Konsulta” on Wednesday.

She said they provided an initial 500 COVID-19 care kits and trained personnel to roll out the system.

“Maganda nga ito kasi mas maraming programs ‘yung magagawa natin all over the Philippines na sabay-sabay, kasi ang pinaka problema namin kulang kami sa tao,” she said.

(This is good because we can do more programs all over the Philippines at the same time, because our biggest problem is that we lack people.)

The vice president said they will also replicate the project in Iloilo province, adding that they are also conducted training for the personnel in the province. — NB, GMA News

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