Vice President Leni Robredo, on Saturday, April 23, squashed rumors and allegations that exiled Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison is her “adviser” and threatened legal action against those who will post such claims.
“Walang katotohanan ang kuwento na ‘adviser’ ko o ng ating kampanya si Jose Maria Sison. Hindi ko pa siya nakakausap kahit minsan, personal man o sa anumang paraan (There is no truth to the story that Jose Maria Sison is my or the campaign’s ‘adviser.’ I have never talked to him, personal or in any capacity),” she said in a statement.
“Ilang ulit ko na ring inilinaw na hindi ako kailanman makikipag-ugnayan sa sinumang indibidwal o grupo na gumagamit ng dahas para isulong ang interes (I’ve cleared a number of times that I will never be in alliance with any individual or group that uses violence to push their interests),” Robredo, who is turning 57 years old today, added.
The aspiring president said that the allegations that Sison gave her or any of her staff advice for the presidential campaign are “lies.”
She also threatened to file legal charges against the spreaders of these malicious reports.
“Kasalukuyang pinag-aaralan na ng ating mga abogado ang pagsampa ng nararapat na kaso para panagutin ang nagpalabas ng kasinungalingang ito (Our lawyers are now studying to file the appropriate cases to make accountable those who spread these lies),” Robredo said.
In a public statement, Sison also denied advising the Vice President’s camp.
This came after a report on Journal Online supposedly quoting him in a supposed statement on Ang Bayan, the official news organ of the CPP, that he stands as Robredo’s adviser.
READ: Robredo: ‘Red-tagging aims to stop momentum of People’s Campaign’
Sison also denied consulting with lawyer Barry Gutierrez, Robredo’s spokesman.
“Absolute lie. Nabaliw na yata ‘yung writer (The writer could be insane). Desperate much?” Gutierrez said in a Twitter post with a screenshot of the “fake” news report.
This is not the first time that Robredo faced red-tagging accusations. Even Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Cavite Rep. Boying Remulla have accused the campaign of being “infiltrated” by communists.
The Vice President will spend her birthday with "kakampinks" later at the Pasay grand rally along Macapagal Blvd. Her supporters have also organized a nationwide house-to-house campaign this morning.