Robredo: Unity should be based on truth, justice

ILOILO City — Vice President Leni Robredo said Friday that unity should be anchored on truth and justice just like the 1986 People Power Revolution that toppled the Marcoses.

"Noong 1986, nagkaisa ang taumbayan na wakasan ang pang-aabuso ng diktadurya. Dito sa Iloilo, nung nakarating ang balita na napatalsik ang diktador, bumukas ang mga ilaw, tumunog ang kampana, nagpunta ang tao sa Jaro Cathedral, nagyakapan ang mga estranghero," Robredo said in her speech before a packed Iloilo Sports Complex in this city.

"Ang pagkakaisa ay dapat nakatuntong sa katotohanan at hustisya. Hindi lang kulay at apelyido ang dapat palitan. Kailangan wakasan ang luma at bulok na uri ng pulitika," the presidential candidate said. 

Robredo stressed that her governance will be based on providing equal opportunities for all and for empowering individuals.

"Ang atin pong sistema ay walang palakasan, walang pami-pamilya," she said.

"Lahat po ay mabibigyan ng lakas dahil bawat isa ay bahagi ng pambansang pamilya. Magtatagumpay tayo sa agendang ito dahil titiyakin natin na pagbibigkisin natin ang husay at sipag ng bawat Pilipino," she added.

Robredo barnstormed Iloilo with running mate, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, vowing honest government if elected in the May 2022 elections.

Robredo also thanked the Iloilo folk for supporting her in 2016 when she ran for vice president.

"Iyong abanse na nakuha ko rito sa Iloilo, napakalaki. Pinrotesta pa nga," Robredo said.

She was alluding to the poll protest filed by former Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. against her 2016 vice presidential race victory.

Iloilo was one of the three pilot provinces chosen by Marcos. Jr. in his poll protest vs. Robredo as provided by the Rules of the Supreme Court.

This means that those votes from Iloilo and two other pilot provinces, Camarines Sur and Negros Oriental, were recounted manually. Robredo's lead over Marcos even increased due to the manual count, and the Supreme Court junked Marcos, Jr.'s protest in February 2021.

During the Iloilo grand rally, Robredo touted that the Ilonggos' vote is no fraud.

"Hindi mandaraya ang mga Ilonggo. Ang mga Ilonggo, bumoboto lagi ng tama," she added, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Ex-PCGG Commissioner endorses Leni

Former Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) Commissioner Art Defensor, Sr. called on Ilonggos to vote Vice President Leni Robredo for President because she won't splurge on shoes.

Defensor expressed his support for Robredo on the same day of the 36th year anniversary of the People Power Revolution that ousted the dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

PCGG is the government agency tasked to recover the ill-gotten wealth of the late former President Marcos and his family.

"The next President cannot be a man. The next President should be a woman. The next President should be a Bicolana," Defensor said in Hiligaynon language.

"You should vote for Leni Robredo for President because she won't buy many shoes," Defensor added.

When the Marcos family was ousted from Malacañang in 1986 after a three-day bloodless People Power Revolt, former First Lady Imelda Marcos left a lot of shoes in Malacañang Palace as the family left in a hurry and went into exile in Hawaii.

In closing, Defensor said voters should not vote for those who stole from public funds.

"It was US$530 million [of their deposits] that we got from banks in Switzerland. I myself brought the documents showing the Marcoses had US$530 million," he said.

"So, you know who to vote: Leni Robredo," he added. —LDF/BAP/KG, GMA News