By Raymund Antonio While she now takes the role of an opposition leader, Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday has objections on the nationwide information drive on federalism once it becomes a platform for election campaign. Vice President Leni Robredo
(OVP / MANILA BULLETIN) Robredo, a former housing chief, is concerned about the federalism caravan that is allegedly being used by some senatorial aspirants for next year’s midterm elections instead of informing the public about federalism. “Wala naman akong oposisyon na magkaroon ng federalism caravan. Pero dapat sana iyong sadya nito, ipaintindi sa taumbayan kung tungkol sa ano iyong usapin (I don’t have any opposition to have federalism caravan. But I hope the purpose of it is to make the people understand what it is really all about),” the Vice President said. “Pero instead na nagiging ganoon, parang nagiging kampanya tuloy siya. Nag-aalala ako na baka ginagawa lang itong vehicle para isulong iyong mga pribadong interes at hindi iyong interes ng taumbayan (But instead of that, it is becoming a platform for campaigning. I’m worried it’s being used as a vehicle to advance their private interest and not the interest of the people). The Vice President took a stand against the federalism caravan after she learned from her fellow Bicolanos that speakers for the event were senatorial candidates in the 2019 elections. Apparently, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) held a convention on federalism on July 6 in Legazpi, Albay. This was the third leg of the agency’s nationwide roadshow on federalism. At the event, Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Francis Tolentino was the keynote speaker. He was initially included in the possible senatorial slate of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). “Halimbawa doon sa amin sa Bicol, maraming nagre-reklamo na mga kababayan ko na pinapunta sila—DILG -sponsored event so pera ng taumbayan—pero may mga nagsalita na mga kandidato para sa susunod na senatorial elections. Bakit gagastusin iyong pera ng DILG para sa ganoon (For example in Bicol, many of my provincemates were complaining they were asked to go to -- DILG-sponsored event so its public funds--but there were speakers who are candidates for the next senatorial elections. Why would the DILG spend money for that)?” she asked. Through the DILG caravan, she stressed that it should give Filipinos the opportunity to “voice their concerns” as well as to “understand federalism, its effects and implications.”