By Raymund Antonio
Vice President Leni Robredo does not consider the Liberal Party, which she chairs, as a “baggage” despite the continued attacks on the opposition political party.
Vice President Leni Robredo
(Photo by OVP / MANILA BULLETIN)
Robredo, who has long taken on the role of opposition, said she has no plans to abandon LP and jump ship to other parties for political gain.
“Actually, marami na akong kakampi nag-suggest na lumipat ako ng partido para lumakas ang aking political capital,” she said in an interview with Church-run Radio Veritas, where she was asked if LP would only be extra weight for her to bear.
(Actually, many of my allies suggested that I move to another party to strengthen my political capital.)
Robredo said she decided not to leave the LP simply because she believes in the party’s principles and values.
The Vice President recalled that LP members had been immediately reduced as soon as then-Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte won the 2016 presidential elections.
The LP, which ruled Philippine politics during the previous Aquino administration, lost most of its members after they jumped ship to the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, the party of Duterte.
“Hindi ako aalis. Kaya ako nasa Liberal Party hindi dahil sa personalities na andun. Pero ako nasa LP kasi nananiniwala ako sa values na tinatayuan ng LP,” said Robredo.
(I won’t leave. I’m with the LP not because of the personalities there. But I’m with LP because I believe on the values of LP.)
“Anong values na ‘yan? Iyong liberal democracy, ‘yung kapangyarihan na nasa kamay ng ordinaryong mamamayan, karapatan na magdesisyon sa sarili, karapatan na makilahok sa lahat ng aspetong ng governance,” she explained.
(What are those values? That’s liberal democracy, the power is in the hands of ordinary people, the rights to decide for themselves and participate in all aspects of governance.)
The opposition Liberal Party has been the subject of criticisms and fake news on social media since Robredo assumed the vice presidency in June 2016. At that time, LP members wasted no time dropping their yellow color and joined Duterte's party.