Robredo: Bongbong accountable for Marcos' ill-gotten wealth

Vice President Leni Robredo said former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. must be held accountable for his late father’s ill-gotten wealth.

“Kung ang anak ay nakikinabang sa kasalanan ng ama, he is as guilty eh. Yung issue ni Marcos corruption, hidden wealth, at pagnanakaw. Pag ikaw nakikinabang sa very act na hinuhusgahan yung tatay mo, kailangan ka rin husgahan,” Robredo said in an interview with broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez aired on Saturday.

(If the son benefits from the father's sin, he is also guilty. The issue with Marcos was corruption, hidden wealth, and stealing of public funds. If you are benefiting from the very act for which your father was held accountable, you must also be held accountable.)

Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who ruled the country for two decades, was ousted through the People Power Revolution in February 1986, leaving a nation mired in deep poverty and foreign debt. 

Robredo, who is seeking the presidency in the May 9 elections, said the former senator does not have to admit anything since the allegations were already proven in court.

“Hindi naman niya kailangan aminin. Maraming kaso decided already with finality na saying itong mga paratang sa pamilya nila nangyari talaga,” she said.

(He did not have to admit that because many cases were decided already with finality saying that these allegations against their family actually happened.)

Robredo was also asked if she would hold former First Lady Imelda Marcos accountable for corruption.

“Ako sa akin, parati sa akin rule of law, whether si Imelda Marcos yan o kung sino pa man na tao, kung ano ang sinasabi ng batas kailangan sundin,” she said.

(For me, it's always the rule of law, whether it's Imelda Marcos or any other person, what the law says must be followed.)

Marcos camp reacts

For the Marcos camp, it claimed that Robredo's goal is not to serve the country but to taint the image of its rivals.

"Wala na po kaming magagawa kung pinatutunayan lamang niya ang kanyang sinabi noon na ang kanyang pagtakbo ay hindi upang maglingkod sa bayan kundi upang siraan lamang ang kanyang kalaban na napupusuan ng nakararaming mamamayan," Attorney Vic Rodriguez, spokesman of Marcos, said in a statement on Sunday.

(We cannot do anything if Robredo is only proving her previous statements that her goal for running for the presidency is not to serve Filipinos but to criticize her rival who is being supported by many of our countrymen.)

The camp of Marcos will also focus on sending its message to uplift the country from the effects of the pandemic, Rodriguez added.

In 2018, the Sandiganbayan found Imelda Marcos guilty of graft in connection with her alleged financial interests in Swiss-based foundations during her time as Minister of Human Settlements and interim member of Congress.

Asked if she was “obsessed” to defeat Marcos for the second time, Robredo replied, “Ako hindi yun obsession pero ako anyone na mina-make niya yung mockery na paniniwala ng tao na handang magsinungaling para lang ma-achieve yung kanyang ambition at saka yung greed kailangan nating labanan at hindi lang ako ang dapat na lumalaban doon.”

(It is not an obsession. But anyone who makes a mockery and makes the people believe in his lies to achieve his ambition and greed, we must fight it. And I'm not the only one who should be fighting it.)

Robredo beat Marcos in the 2016 vice presidential race by 263,473 votes. Her victory was affirmed by the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, last year.

'Underestimated'

The vice president said that she has always been underestimated for being the lone female candidate. 

“Lagi akong underestimated, yun talaga strength ko. Strength ko siya not only as a candidate pero kahit noong vice president ako maraming nagu-underestimate sa akin dahil babae ako. Pero dahil sa pag-underestimate sa akin nakabuwelo kaming gumawa ng palagay naming tama,” she said.

(I'm always underestimated; that's really my strength. It is my strength, not only as a candidate but even when I became vice president. Many underestimated me because I am a woman, but because they underestimated me, we were able to do what we thought was right.)

Binay in slate

Robredo also admitted that the inclusion of former Vice President Jejomar Binay in her Senate slate would be controversial, but she was willing to set aside differences for the greater good. 

“Alam namin magiging very controversial, not just with former Vice President Binay but with many others. Pero para sa akin symbolic ito. Symbolic na para sa interes na bansa willing ka i-set aside yung ibang hindi pagkakaintindihan,” she said.

(We knew that it would be very controversial, not just with former Vice President Binay but with many others, but for me it is symbolic. Symbolic for the interest of the country, you want to set aside differences.)

Asked if she believed that Binay was not involved in corruption, Robredo said, “Wala ako sa position para manghusga (I am not in a position to judge).”

China and WPS

Robredo also said the West Philippine Sea issue with China was “non-negotiable.”

“Maraming bagay na pwedeng i-strengthen yung relations natin with China halimbawa yung trade. Pero para sa akin non-negotiable yung issue ng WPS, kasi may desisyon na eh, yung desisyon ay in favor sa atin eh. Yun ay pwede natin ileverage para i-strengthen natin yung relations natin with other countries,” she said.

(There are many areas where we can strengthen our relations with China, for example, trade. But for me, the issue of WPS is non-negotiable, because there is a decision in our favor. We can use the decision as leverage to strengthen our relations with other countries.)

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands, following a case filed by the Philippines, invalidated China's sweeping claims over the waters.

Beijing does not recognize the ruling. —With a report from Consuelo Marquez/VBL/KG, GMA News