VICE President Leni Robredo will never consider unifying with her political rival, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., as long as the son of the late dictator remains in denial of the misdeeds and atrocities committed by his father’s regime.
Robredo, opposition presidential aspirant, said there is no point discussing the possibility of unifying with Marcos when he is unremorseful until now.
“Ang unification, ang lahat na pag-uusap, lagi ‘yan nakabase sa justice (Unification, all talks are always based on justice),” she told an interview of presidential aspirants of radio dzRH and The Manila Times.
“Meron pa siyang hindi pinapanagutan na ginawa. Mahirap makipagkasundo kung walang pagtanggap, hindi nagbabayad (He still has to answer for what has been done. It’s difficult to reconcile with acceptance of misdeeds. When there’s an unpaid debt),” she added.
Robredo defeated Marcos in the 2016 vice presidential race, a victory which was validated by the Supreme Court acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) which dismissed Marcos’ electoral protest.
Robredo said while she is naturally a forgiving person, she a responsibility to the people because the country’s future is now hanging in the balance.
“Our country at stake here, and if we accept something anything just for the sake of unification, what kind of message are we sending the people? That all abuses in the past are okay? That corruption is okay? It’s okay that you offer yourself to the people when you have not answered for ac crime you have been convicted of?” she said in mixed Filipino and English.
Marcos has been consistent in saying that he has nothing to apologize for the human rights violations committed during the martial law regime of his father, including the torture and murder of political activists, dissidents and journalists who fought the dictatorship.
In 2003, the Supreme Court ruled with finality that the 10,000 human rights victims during the martial law regime were entitled to compensation from Marcos’ $10 billion Swiss bank deposits, which was have been verified to be ill-gotten.
Marcos Jr. also has also refused to own up to the allegations that their family stole billions of dollars from the Filipino people despite previous court records.
The Presidential Commission on Good Government has recovered some P171 billion worth of Marcos ill-gotten wealth and is trying recover another P125 billion.
Marcos Jr., who is accused of failing to file his income tax return as a public official from 1982 to 1985, is facing disqualification cases before the Commission on Elections for his conviction on four counts of violation of the Tax Code.
CAMPAIGN
Robredo’ spokesman, Barry Gutierrez, said the Vice President is preparing for two presidential campaign launch scenarios next week due to the uncertainty posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking at a forum organized by the opposition coalition 1Sambayan yesterday, Gutierrez said they preparing for a “physical event” and one “which is completely online.”
Gutierrez said they are planning a kick-off in Robredo’s hometown of Naga in Camarines Sur, where she will be joined by her running mate, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, as well as senatorial candidates under their slate.
He added their camp is ready to abide by any adjustment in health protocols and restrictions to be imposed by the Comelec and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases for the holding of such public events, including limiting the number of people allowed in a venue and requiring participants to present COVID-19 vaccination cards or negative test result for the virus.
Gutierrez said they would want to maximize Robredo’s face-to-face activities but she would always comply with health protocols and restrictions.
Earlier, the Marcos-Sara Duterte said they will hold their proclamation rally at the Iglesia Ni Cristo-owned Philippine Arena in Bulacan. Marcos chief of staff Vic Rodriguez said they are still finalizing the date for the event.
FARMERS
Pangilinan said he will uplift the lives of farmers and fishermen if he wins as vice president.
In an interview with radio DZBB’s “Ikaw na ba? The vice presidential interviews,” Pangilinan said he will provide farmers and fishermen with modern technology and full government support that will ensure their livelihood.
Also, he said, he will make sure that the government puts an end to the unabated smuggling of agricultural products which kill the farmers’ and fishermen’s livelihood.
Pangilinan said the government should also stop importing too much of these agricultural products which have been taken advantage of by smugglers.
He said importation should be the “last priority.”
Pangilinan also said he is in favor of the anti-dynasty law, or an “anti-turncoatism” measure so politicians cannot not jump from one party to another.
“Kailangan hindi lang anti-dynasty, kundi anti turncoatism. Ibig sabihin kung ikaw ay lilipat ng partido ay dapat meron matibay-tibay na dahilan at paglilipat ka kailangan hilingin mo ang permiso ng Comelec. Hindi puede yung basta ‘ayoko na’ at magpaliwanag kung bakit.
So, pahirapan natin yung mabilis na paglipat, palakasin natin ang ating mga partido (We need not only the anti-dynasty law, but anti-turncoat law. This means if you want to transfer to another political party there should be a valid reason and that you should ask permission from the Comelec. You cannot get out of a party just for the sake of getting out.
There must be a valid reason. So, let us make it hard for them to jump from one party to another and strengthen out political parties),” he added. — With Ashzel Hachero and Raymond Africa
