A candidate's past deeds and track record should have a bearing on who Filipinos would vote for in the polls, Vice President Leni Robredo underscored Friday, Feb. 4 during the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) presidential candidates forum.
"Para sa akin dapat magkaroon ng sistema at mekanismo para nao-audit 'yung aming mga ginagawa, may eleksyon man o wala, lalung-lalo na kung may eleksyon (For me, there should be a system or mechanism to audit what we are doing, whether there's an election or not, but especially if there's an election)," said Robredo, who is vying for the presidency in the upcoming May 9 elections.
"'Pag may eleksyon kailangan talaga maisiwalat ano ba 'yung mga accusations laban sa kanya, mayroon ba siyang conviction, ano ba 'yung kanyang mga pinagdaanan, ano ba 'yung kanyang record. Kasi dapat bahagi ito ng pagkilatis ng taumbayan na boboto sa kanya (If there's an election, there's really a need to reveal the accusations against a candidate, if he or she had been convicted, what is his or her past, what's on his or her record. Because this should be part of the vetting of the people who will vote for him or her)," she explained.
Robredo, 56, is the opposition standard-bearer.
She gave these remarks in response to a panelist's question on whether or not she agrees with subjecting so-called "presidentiables" to an investigation on alleged corruption, as well as background checks by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
"Dapat talaga ginawa yun. Dapat talaga ginagawa yung background checks hindi lang sa mga aspirants pero lahat ng public officials. Kasi yung public office is a public trust (That should really be done. Background checks should be done not only to aspirants but on all public officials. Because public office is a public trust)," Robredo said.
Incidentally, President Duterte teased late last month that he would soon reveal dirt about the Palace bets, one of whom he described as being "too corrupt".