Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo’s senatorial bets on Wednesday, Feb. 9, appealed to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to allow the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to continue its COVID-19 pandemic response initiatives during the campaign period.
The initiatives include the Swab Cab, a free mobile antigen testing; Bayanihan E-Konsulta, a free telemedicine consultation for Metro Manila residents and nearby provinces; Vaccine Express, a program that augments the vaccination program of local government units (LGUs); and the medical assistance program.
The senatorial bets cited humanitarian considerations for their request to the poll body to allow these initiatives to go on despite the election ban on using public offices and resources for one’s campaign.
“Helping suffering communities during a crisis is Leni’s regular program and her work as a Vice President doesn’t stop now that she is a candidate. Will mayors stop their programs as mayors because they’re candidates?,” senatorial candidate and former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr. said.
Robredo earlier told the Comelec that her image will not be in the materials used for the initiatives. She also prohibited members of her family from participating in the programs.
Her daughter, Tricia, who is a doctor, regularly volunteers for the Swab Cab and Vaccine Express initiatives.
On Tuesday, Feb. 8, hours before Robredo started her official campaign, the OVP removed her photo from its official Facebook page and replaced the profile photo with the OVP’s logo. It also removed the words “Angat Buhay” from the cover photo so the office could remain neutral during the campaign season.
Labor leader Sonny Matula, head of the Federation of Free Workers, pushed the poll body to act immediately on the Vice President’s request.
“The Comelec exemption is important since workers direly need the quality public service that only the OVP with its vast network and experience can provide. We hope the commissioners realize that VP Leni has been consistently providing aid to the needy even before start of the campaign period,” he said.
READ: Robredo hopes Comelec will allow OVP’s COVID response programs during campaign period
Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who is also part of Robredo’s Senate slate, added that poor Filipinos will not stop suffering just because of the campaign period.
“The Comelec should be able to discern what is cheap political gimmick and a genuine act of compassion. VP Leni herself said it. Her office can act and help without attention-grabbing,” the former Navy officer stressed.
Robredo suspended the OVP’s pandemic response initiatives on Feb. 7, a day before the official start of the campaign season while awaiting for the poll body’s decision.
"Our people's needs cannot wait. Those stricken with COVID-19 and ravaged by recent typhoons urgently require government assistance and relief. This is beyond politics,” senatorial candidate Alex Lacson, a bestselling author of patriotic books, also said.
“I join Leni's request and call on Comelec to immediately grant her petition to continue with her pandemic and disaster response initiatives during the campaign period for humanitarian reasons," he added.
For human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, who is running for a Senate seat for the second time, the OVP’s programs “fill the gaps of the government during this pandemic especially in terms of aid and testing.”
“The OVP’s programs are a big help to many Filipinos that’s why they should not be dragged with the campaign of VP Leni,” he said.