Robredo to opposition: ‘Hindi lang tayo ang magaling’

A day after the 1Sambayan coalition listed her among their nominees for the country’s top posts in the 2022 elections, Vice President Leni Robredo told the opposition to refrain from thinking they are the only smart and competent ones in the country.

During her weekly radio show on Sunday, June 13, Robredo said the opposition should also understand the current political environment as they figure out how to defeat the administration bets.

“Iyong sitwasyon na umiiral, parang siya iyong nag-give rise sa ganitong klaseng political situation. Kailangan natin iyon intindihin. Kailangan natin intindihin bakit marami iyong attracted sa Pangulo, bakit ba maraming attracted sa ganitong klaseng mga politiko? Kailangan iyon i-recognize,” said the Vice President.

(The prevailing situation in the country gave rise to this current political situation. We need to understand that. We need to understand why many are drawn to the President and politicians like him. We need to recognize that.)

Addressing her co-host, she added, “Hindi puwedeng sabihin, Ka Ely [Saludar], na tayo lang iyong magaling. Tayo lang iyong, alam mo iyon, iyong tayo lang iyong matino – hindi puwede iyon.“

(We can’t say that we’re the only ones who are competent, that we’re the only decent ones.)

Otherwise, Robredo said, unity wouldn’t be achieved.

“Sana – at ito hindi lang sa 1Sambayan, kundi sa lahat ng supporters natin – na, hindi gustong sabihin na dahil iba iyong paniniwala ng iba, masama na sila. Hindi dapat gano’n. Dapat intindihin natin bakit ganito iyong paniniwala nila. Kasi kung hindi natin iintindihin, Ka Ely, hindi tayo magkakaroon ng pagkakaisa.“

(This applies not just to 1Sambayan but also to all our supporters: I hope we don’t mean to say that just because other people have different convictions than we do, they’re already bad. It shouldn’t be that way. We should understand why they have those convictions. Because if we don’t, we won’t achieve unity.)

This complemented her statement on Saturday, June 12, where she called for unity among all opposition groups in 2022 in their goal to win against Duterte’s chosen successor.

“I join the call for unity and I am also making this appeal: We should not be the only ones talking; we can’t be united if it’s the same people coming together,” Robredo said in Filipino in a brief video message after 1Sambayan listed her among their nominees.

1Sambayan fielded six nominees for president and vice president, but four of them have either declined the nomination or said they do not have plans to run for higher office.

Robredo herself has yet to formally announce her plans in 2022. She reiterated on Sunday that she is open to any possibility.

In selecting the candidates they would endorse to battle the administration bets in the upcoming polls, 1Sambayan said they review the nominees’ track record, upright stand on key issues, platforms, competence, and winnability. – Rappler.com