All meetings of aspiring president Vice President Leni Robredo with parishes in places she visits in her sorties are not campaign events, the camp of Robredo said Friday, March 4.
In a statement, Atty. Barry Gutierrez, Robredo's spokesperson, made this clear following claims that the Vice President is using the Church for her election campaign.
Gutierrez stressed that the Parish visits of Robredo are sponsored and organized by the parishes and are held solely for "conversation and prayer."
"Lahat ng pinupuntahan ni VP Leni ayon lagi sa imbitasyon (All visits of VP Leni are according to invites)," the lawyer said.
"Ito ay mga conversation and prayer with VP Leni, na ino-organisa mismo ng parokya, at hindi campaign event (These are conversation and prayer with VP Leni organized by the parishes and are not campaign events)," he added.
Gutierrez further said that the parishes are offering their time to meet with the aspiring president as they share the same principles and beliefs with her.
"Kung desisyon ng parokya na i-offer yung espasyo, tiwala kami na dahil yun sinasalamin ni VP Leni ang prinsipyo at paniniwala nila (If the parishes decide to offer their space, we are confident that it is because VP Leni is a reflection of their principles and beliefs)," Gutierrez said.
Robredo has earlier called on the religious and lay groups to help her fight rampant disinformation in the country. She ecpressed her hope during her visit at the Cathedral-Shrine and Parish of the Good Shepherd in Quezon City on March 1 that the religious sector will be her partner to change the brand pf politics and governance.
READ MORE: ‘Be our able partner’: Robredo seeks religious sector’s help in pushing for reforms