"The best man for the job is a woman."
This was how Vice President Leni Robredo, the lone female presidential candidate in this year’s elections, made her closing statement during the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-organized debate on Saturday, March 19.
In the Comelec’s “PiliPinas Debates 2022: The Turning Point” for presidential candidates, Robredo stood tall against male presidential candidates in her remark on why she should be the country’s next leader.
“True leaders show up, and man up. Kaya po sa darating na Mayo (That’s why this coming May), the best man for the job is a woman,” she said.
The Vice President cited why her fellow Filipinos should choose her because she will not leave behind the nation, and asked voters not to look for someone who was not there.
Robredo and eight other presidential candidates attended the debate. Former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was a no-show as he and running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio rejected the idea of joining debates.
“Kahit po anong kwento ang ipakalat sa akin, ang totoo po, kumpleto po kami ng resibo kaya po ‘wag na natin hanapin ang ayaw naman humarap sa atin. Lahat ng oras andito po ako, hinaharap kayo, ipinapakipaglaban kayo (Whatever stories they spread about me, the truth is, we are complete with receipts so let’s not look for someone who doesn’t want to face us. All the time I am here, facing you, fighting for you),” she said.
The country needs a president who runs to the people’s side when they are suffering, who is ready to sacrifice to help them, and who can face anyone to fight for them, she added.
“Ako po, may eleksyon o wala, bagyo man, kahit anong sakuna, pandemya, kahit anong problema, andito po ako (Me, whether it’s election or not, typhoon or whatever crisis, pandemic or whatever problem, I am here),” Robredo stressed.
The Vice President’s supporters on Twitter made #KayLeniNaTayo a top two trending topic both in the country and worldwide. The hashtag has been used for more than 157,000 tweets.