While her political life is still relatively short at only nine years and counting, Vice President Leni Robredo promised she had never let allies influence her decision when it comes to people’s interests.
In an interview with Church-run Radyo Veritas on Wednesday, March 2, the presidential aspirant acknowledged the different views on death penalty, divorce, and decriminalization of abortion in her own ticket.
Reelectionist Senator Risa Hontiveros backs the passing of a divorce bill in the Philippines, but Robredo opts to strengthen the current annulment and nullification of marriage laws before discussing divorce.
“Sinabi nyo marami akong mga kasama sa aking political life na iba ‘yung paniniwala sa akin pero hindi ako naimpluwensiyahan nito (You said that I have had many people in may political life who have different views than me but I am not influenced by this),” Robredo said during the Catholic E-Forum.
“In fact, within the ticket merong history talagang matinde ‘yung laban ng mga paniniwala pero (there is a history of extreme differences in beliefs but) the presidency is about that. Iyong (The) presidency, you’re president of everyone even of people who look at things na hindi kapareho sayo pero ang sa aking (differently than you but for me, the) assurance na parati tayo na (we are always) to the best interest of the people,” she added.
Robredo is against the death penalty, divorce, and the decriminalization of abortion, the last one she admitted was due to her Catholic faith.
READ: Agree or disagree?: Robredo weighs in on same-sex marriage, abortion, divorce
But she assured listeners that her faith will not be a hindrance to her listening to “divergent voices,” adding that her track record of consultative governance even when she was still congresswoman speaks well for this claim.
“Kasi kung ako ‘yung pangulo, ako ay dapat makikinig sa paniniwala ng iba (Because if I am the president, I need to listen to the belief of others)...that is not to say magpapaimpluwensiya ako pero kailangan meron silang papel (that I will be influenced, but they need to have a role),” Robredo said.
“Ang gobyerno obligasyon na pinapakinggan iyong iba’t ibang pinanggalingan whether Katoliko sila o hindi. Hindi naman ako magpepresidente dahil presidente lang ako ng mga Katoliko (The government is obliged to listen the different opinions whether they are Catholic or not. I am not running as president to be the president of the Catholics),” she stressed.
However, Robredo, the lone female presidential aspirant, also insisted that nobody can question her faith and that she does not see the need to defend it.