Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo doesn’t believe that politics by itself is bad, but she highlighted the need for the people to want to change “bad politics” because this could be a jump-off point for programs that will empower abused women and the indigenous community.
Even as she joined politics late in her life, the Vice President has been exposed to it, being the wife of former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo who served Naga City as its mayor for almost two decades.
“While nagbigyan ng masamang mukha 'yung pulitika, parang isa sa mga misyon na gusto naming gawin ni Senator Kiko, ipakita sa tao kasama ninyo na ang pulitika (politics has been given a bad reputation, one of the missions that Senator Kiko and I want to show people is that politics) doesn’t have to be necessarily bad, na ang pulitika kaya nating baguhin (that we can change politics),” Robredo said during a virtual “Kamustahan with Leni: Bataan, Zambales, and Olongapo” on Friday, Jan. 21.
Patronage politics begins, she lamented, because people feel indebted to government officials for giving what is due them.
“Dapat para sa akin, 'yung pulitika saka (For me, politics and) governance, hindi na tayo kailangang humingi kasi yung pangangailangan natin, nandiyan na. Sinagot na (we shouldn’t need to ask because what we need is there. It has been addressed),” she added.
This kind of politics will only end, though, if leaders can get to the ground and address the issues their constituencies face and craft programs that are responsive to the real needs of the people.
This will start programs that can address issues such as human trafficking, prostitution, ancestral domain, and indigenous peoples’ (IPs) rights.
Robredo drew from her experience as a lawyer for nongovernment organization Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panlegal (SALIGAN), which gave her experiences in dealing with victims of abuses and problems faced by the IP communities.
The aspiring president has a two-pronged approach in dealing with violence against women: local organizations and economic empowerment.
READ: Robredo enjoins women to 'break barriers, change the narrative'
She noted that most of the victims she has helped as a lawyer find it hard to leave their partners because they have nowhere to turn to.
“Napakaimportante ng mga organisasyon (Organizations are very important) on the ground, organisasyon na mga kababaihan na pag merong nagiging biktima, may sumasalo sa kanila at may napupuntahan sila kasi ito 'yung nagpapalakas ng loob nila (organizations for women that when there are victims, they will be given support and they have a place to go because this will give them strength),” she said.
Capacity-building programs for economic empowerment is also one of the things that she will push for when it comes to women’s rights.
She noted that Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act now includes psychological and economic abuses, which refers to womanizing, verbal abuse, and non-provision of financial support by the spouse.
“Ako talaga (For me) number one kasi sa akin talaga (for me really is) economic empowerment, kasi ito 'yung nakita ko na pinakamabisa saka pinakamabilis na paraan na 'yung babae nalalampasan niya 'yung (because this is what I saw that’s more effective and faster way for women to survive the) trauma na pinagdaanan niya, pag siya ay nabibigyan ng malaking (that they went through, when she is given a big) opportunity para magkaroon ng sarili niyang hanapbuhay (to have her own livelihood),” Robredo said.
Asked about her programs for indigenous communities if she wins in the 2022 polls, she highlighted the importance of her Robredo People’s Council as well as the victory of former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr., who belongs to the Tuwali tribe of Ifugao and the Gaddang tribe of Nueva Vizcaya in pushing for her agenda for the IP communities.
With the people’s council, IP communities can voice out their concerns and opinions about issues that affect them, including environment, agricultural, mining, and reforestation.
READ: Robredo supports Cordillera ancestral domain; to limit agri products importation
“Pag sinabi ko pong magkaroon ng boses, sisiguraduhin po natin na (When I say you will have a voice, we will make sure this is) institutionalized 'yung mekanismo (the mechanism),” Robredo explained.
She will also support the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development Protection Plan, which is part of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan that covers the National Land Use Act.
The law will protect the rights of the IPs in protecting their ancestral domain and ensuring its sustainable development and management.
She highlighted the importance of community-based livelihoods for the skills of the IP communities, as well as financial and technical support for culturally appropriate educational programs.
Robredo has been organizing virtual meetings with her supporters from different provinces in the past week. This is part of her plan of participatory governance where everyone should and can be heard.