Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo joined veteran journalist Jessica Soho for GMA News’ presidential interviews where she spoke her mind on key national issues, including the alleged rampant corruption in government, the controversial war on drugs, the government’s pandemic response, and the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue.
Aside from Robredo, fellow Palace hopefuls Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao also answered Soho’s questions in the pre-recorded interviews aired on Saturday, Jan. 22.
The remaining presidential candidate, former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. did not participate in the program.
Should she win the presidential elections this coming May, Robredo said that her government’s core principles will be transparency, accountability, and people empowerment.
On corruption
The Vice President said she will ensure that all government processes and transactions are transparent, and that public officials will be accountable.
She will push for a full disclosure policy, which means all government processes will be made public to “deter overpricing and corruption".
Robredo also said she will make sure that all those found guilty of corruption will be punished according to law.
On governance
But also as important as her first two principles is “people empowerment.”
“Meaning to say, dapat iyong tao kalahok sa (the people should be part of) governance para iyong gobyerno napipilitan maging matino (so the government will be forced to be incorruptible),” she said.
Top priorities
Asked about the top three priorities of her governments if she wins, the Vice President stressed that she wants to generate jobs, make health care accessible for all, and improve the country’s education system.
She noted that Filipinos lost their sources of livelihood because of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and many businesses had to close.
As the only presidential candidate with an economic background, Robredo aims to generate jobs and livelihood for Filipinos by strengthening local industries.
The pandemic also revealed “the systematic ills” of the country’s health care system, which the aspiring president wants to address by making medical care accessible to all, especially the poorest.
War on drugs
Despite being at odds with President Duterte over the war on drugs, she still acknowledged that the country indeed has a problem with illegal drugs.
Robredo said she will wage a war against illegal drugs, too, with as much “vigor” as the current administration but in a different way.
“Naniniwala ako malaki ang problema natin sa (I believe that we have a huge problem with) drugs but there are better ways of doing it,” she insisted.
COVID-19 response
While she admitted that the government did some good things in responding to the pandemic, Robredo said she felt no sense of urgency from it.
She cited as an example the belated decision to close borders during the early months of the pandemic in 2020, as well as the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical frontliners.
“Madami naman magandang ginawa pero iyong pinakaproblema talaga (A lot of good things were done but the problem really), number one, walang (there was no) sense of urgency,” she said.
‘Moral ascendancy’
Meanwhile, Robredo highlighted the importance of having “moral ascendancy” to lead the country as president. This, after she was asked about the polygamy of public servants.
“Hindi ako sang-ayon dun. Kasi iyong pagkakaroon ng iyong (I do not agree to that. Because having) moral ascendancy para sa akin napakahalaga para sa isang (for me is very important for a) public servant kasi kami iyong modelo dapat ng lahat (because we should be the model of all),” she said.
The lady official even said that being a good member of the family equates to being a good public servant.
“Magiging mabuti lang kaming (We would only become a good) public servant kung mabuti kaming miyembro ng aming pamilya (if we are good members of our family),” she answered when asked to choose if she would rather prioritize public service or family.
Natural calamities
Endemic to the Philippines in the past decade are natural disasters such as typhoons and floods.
Robredo sees natural calamities as an “opportunity for us to build back better".
She intends to invest in typhoon-resilient housing so that Filipinos living near danger zones don't have to relocate after every disaster.
Schools and evacuation centers should also be able to withstand typhoons to lessen the loss of lives and properties, she said.
WPS issue
Robredo has always been vocal about leveraging the country’s arbitral tribunal win on the territorial claim issue in the WPS.
In the interview with Soho, the lady official said that leveraging the 2016 decision will form a “coalition of nations” against the militarization of the WPS, which lies within the South China Sea.
“Ang armas natin iyong ating pinanalunan and sa atin, ito ‘yung armas natin para mahikayat iyong ibang bansa na tulungan tayo, magkaisa sa atin para sabay-sabay nating harangin iyong ginagawang pagsakop ng ating teritoryo (Our weapon is this legal victory and this is our weapon to encourage other countries to help us, to join us so we can block the occupation of our territory),” Robredo added.