MY CHOICE: Leni Robredo for president – #BotongPinoy2022
To be honest, I was skeptical toward then-Congresswoman Leni Robredo of Naga City when she ran for Vice President six years ago.
I wasn’t comfortable voting for a one-term congresswoman to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. And also, since I knew that then-Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City is headed for a victory, then it would be better for him to have a cooperative vice president.
Nevertheless, when it became apparent that Robredo won the vice presidential race over Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., I was adamant from the start that no cheating happened. It’s just that votes from Marcos bailiwicks got counted first, and more importantly, Alan Peter Cayetano siphoned votes that should have gone to him.
Though President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Robredo as Housing Secretary, her tenure lasted for less than six months. Around 2019, she was appointed as anti-drug czar but her tenure lasted for just two weeks.
Despite all the attempts of the Duterte administration to marginalize her – not to mention all the malicious attacks against, Robredo kept working. Most notably, her Angat Buhay Lahat initiative has benefited so many families and communities across the country.
More recently, her efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic is praiseworthy. Utilizing donated funds from the private sector, Robredo’s office was able to organize projects for healthcare workers, poor students, and those hard-hit by the pandemic-caused economic crisis.
Even during natural calamities like the eruption of Taal Volcano as well as in dealing with the aftermath of strong typhoons, Robredo’s team of volunteers were more often than not first on the scene. It’s disappointing though that the mainstream media never gave her the airtime it deserves.
Robredo’s hands-on leadership, compassion, and intelligence shows that she is the leader the country needs and deserves for the next six years. Having said all of that, I am proud to vote for her for President this May 9.
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