VP Leni on Isko: Hindi ko siya papatulan

Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday said she does not want to engage in a fight with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, who has publicly called on her to drop her presidential bid.

"Ako, again uulitin ko, hindi ko siya papatulan," Robredo told reporters in Cebu, referring to Moreno.

"Dahil hindi naman ito simpleng laban lang naming dalawa. Laban ito ng bayan natin. May mas malaking laban na kailangan nating panalunin. Gaya ng sinabi ko kanina, extraordinary ang eleksyon na ito," she added.

(Like I said before, I will not engage with him. Because this is not a simple fight between the two of us. This is our country's fight. There is a bigger fight that we need to win. Like I said earlier, this election will be extraordinary.)

During a joint Easter Sunday press conference with fellow presidential candidates Senator Panfilo Lacson and former Defense secretary Norberto Gonzales, Moreno called on Robredo to drop her presidential bid.

The three held the press conference to insist that they are not withdrawing from the presidential race despite supposed requests from other camps.

During the interview in Cebu, Robredo also pointed out that she is fighting for what kind of governance would prevail in the next six years.

“Hindi lang ito contest ng mga kandidato, pero ito 'yung mag de-determine kung anong klaseng pamamahala at pulitika 'yung mananaig sa bayan natin in the next six years, na 'yun 'yung pinapakipaglaban natin ngayon,” she said.

(This is not just a contest of candidates, but this is what will determine what kind of governance and politics will prevail in our country in the next six years. That is what we are fighting for now.)

Moreno previously alleged that Robredo’s camp was behind calls for their withdrawal from the presidential race.

In a separate ambush interview in Rizal, Moreno accused the Vice President of being “matapobre” and “a bully” when asked about Robredo’s remarks.

“Hindi naman ako nakikipag-away, eh. I’m just stating the facts na bully sila. Sila matapobre. Maliit ang tingin nila sa amin, mataas ang pagtingin nila sa sarili nila kaya sila nanghihingi ng withdrawal ng kanilang kalaban,” he said.

(I am not picking a fight with them. I'm just stating the fact that they are bullies  and look down on other people. They think highly of themselves that's why they ask people to withdraw from the race.)

“Wala namang away doon. We are just stating facts na ang mga pink bully at si Leni matapobre. ‘Yun lang ‘yun (There is no argument there. We are just stating the fact that they are pink bullies and Leni look down on people). That’s my opinion and that’s it,” he added.

Moreno said that Robredo was the “godmother” of bullies. He previously accused Robredo of being a bully, citing incidents where pro-Robredo businessmen allegedly threatened to fire employees who are not supportive of her.

“Oh, ngayon nakahanap na sila ng katapat. Ayaw namin sa dilaw. Ayaw ng taumbayan sa dilaw. Kahit na mag-pink pa sila, alam ng tao ang mga dilaw at pink puro matapobre. Ngayon nakahanap na sila ng katapat. Nilalabanan ko sila. Pero hindi ko sila kaaway,” he said.

(Now they found their equal. We don't like the yellows, the people don't like the yellows. Even if they change their color to pink, the people know the yellows and pinks look down on others. I'm fighting them but they are not my enemies.)

He also hit Robredo’s lack of response to his dare urging her camp to deny that they asked other candidates to withdraw from the presidential race.

“Dalawa lang ang sagot doon. Is it true? Yes or no. Kahit na anong ilag nila, alam ng tao sila ay nagsisinungaling. Ayun ang akin. Sila buti pa sila may banal. Sila na mapunta sa langit,” he said.

(The answer is either yes or no. No matter how they avoid it, the people know they are lying.)

He later said he will not stop fighting bullies.

“Hindi ako titigil na labanan ang mga bully. 'Yang mga pink bully na ‘yan lalabanan natin (I will not stop fighting bullies. I will fight those pink bullies). No to pink bully,” he said—KBK/AOL, GMA News