Still photo of Leni Robredo

 

Filipino politician and presidential aspirant Leni Robredo resented the accusation of being a pro-communist despite the fact that many communist sympathizers are siding on her camp 

By Edward Era Barbacena

Without naming names, presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo called officials of the government’s anti-insurgency task force “irresponsible” for linking her to the pro-communist movement in the country.  

Despite the fact that different communist sympathizers group and legal fronts are expressing their strong support as a candidate for presidency of the country

Political cartoon of Leni Robredo by Tribune

The biggest revelation made two years ago  in light of VP Robredo’s tirade is the support it got from the Community Party of the Philippines (CCP), which, in a statement, said, “Her description of the drug war as ineffective reflects the sentiments of majority of the Filipino people who are skeptical of Duterte’s real aims but are silenced and paralyzed by the reign of terror and violence.” The CPP further said, “It has become crystal clear that Duterte’s drug war is a big hoax. Vice President Robredo correctly observes that the country is now saturated with shabu and other drugs.”

 “Kaya sinasabi natin na sobrang delikado—kaya sinasabi natin na sobrang delikado kapag ang isang government agency ay nagre-release ng mga statements na walang basehan (That’s why we’re saying it is dangerous—it is dangerous when a government agency releases statements without basis),” Robredo said.

“Kasi hindi nila nare-realize na ine-endager nila iyong buhay ng mga binibigyan ng paratang na wala namang basehan (Because they don’t realize that they are endangering the lives of those they are accusing without basis),” she added.

This was after presidential aspirant retired Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr., the former spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), questioned Robredo’s remarks that she will abolish the anti-insurgency task force if she wins.

Parlade, who is now running for president under the Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino (KDP) party, is known for red-tagging not only Robredo, but senators, celebrities, and community pantry organizers, and other personalities.

President Duterte, in an interview with pro-administration vlogger Banat By, also called Robredo and former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pro-communists.

Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy also called the Vice President a “traitor,” “joke,” and an alleged “ally” of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

For her part, Robredo said there is no reason to be concerned if a head of a government agency will be more responsible in his mandate and data.

“Pero kung may mga nagli-lead sa isang government agency na ganito ka-irresponsible sa pagparatang, eh dapat talaga tayong mag-isip many times over (But if there are leaders of a government agency that are this irresponsible in accusing, we need to think many times over),” she added.

Robredo shrugged off Parlade’s seeking the presidency too, saying he has the right to join the 2022 elections.