Aspiring vice president Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan believes the release of a fake sex video of Vice President Leni Robredo's eldest daughter Aika is “backfiring.”
It is instead earning Filipino voters’ sympathy for Robredo and boosting her presidential candidacy, Pangilinan—Robredo's runningmate— said.
"What we're beginning to see is a backlash from that unfortunate and fake and really disinformation campaign being launched against Vice President Leni's candidacy. Marami ang na-tu-turn off at marami ang hindi pumapayag sa ganyang istilo at lumilipat (Many are getting turned off and are not accepting that kind of style and they are now shifting)," the senator said.
“Mukhang nag-backlash at magba-backfire. Lalo na tinutulungan ang aming kandidatura, ang kandidatura ni VP Leni dahil nagkakaroon ng simpatiya ang tao (It appears that it is now receiving backlash and is backfiring. It only helps our candidacy, the candidacy of VP Leni is gaining the people's sympathy)," he added.
Pangilinan said rather than benefiting others, the spread of the fake sex video is actually helping Robredo's candidacy to gain sympathy.
"Akala nila nakakatulong sa kanila. Hindi po. Nakakatulong po sa amin mismo. Nagkakaroon ng simpatya dahil sa maliwanag na kasinungalingan, na kawalang respeto sa ginagawa nila (They thought it would help them. No. It actually helps us. We are gaining sympathy due to the clear lies and the lack of respect)," Pangilinan said.
Robredo's camp has condemned the online attack, calling the video a "malicious fabrication." It has asked social media platforms to have the videos taken down and is also mulling a legal action.
Pangilinan also called on the social media giants to take down the criminal and offensive posts.
“VP Leni has shown us that radical love is the way to respond. Our weapons: truth, empathy, and kindness to each other,” he said.
READ MORE: Robredo camp slams ‘fabricated’ porn content, eyes legal action