The Philippines sits at a vital juncture in its history as it prepares for the 2022 Presidential elections.
Internationally, there are whispers of the Philippines becoming a FAILED STATE should the current situation and trends continue. The sparks igniting such whispering are President Duterte’s infamous war on drugs, the failure of government to govern for the good of all, and the parlous economic situation, heighted by the government’s haphazard response to the Pandemic.
Should the Marcos Jr – Duterte partnership win the coming election, we fear for our country, we fear for the future of our children, we fear for the future of our nation.
Faced with such a dire scenario, we do not throw our hands up in dismay, nor clench our fists in anger.
Rather we ACT.
Pope Francis has said: “It is necessary to INTERVENE where evil spreads; because evil spreads where there are no daring Christians who oppose with good.”
Pope Francis calls Christians to fight such evil we now face. There is no sitting on the fence.
Caloocan Bishop Pablo David speaks directly: “We should in fact be ashamed to call ourselves Christians if we don’t actively participate in getting trustworthy candidates opted into office. That is if we care at all about the future of the country!”
And St Paul admonishes us thus, “Do not be overcome by evil, defeat evil with good” (Rom. 12:21).
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.
To defeat the Marcos JR. -Duterte partnership in these 2022 elections, we need to select and actively campaign for a leader who is the antithesis of the Ferdinand Marcos Jr – Sarah Duterte team. We need choose and strongly support a person of opposite morality, educational background and leadership style.
To us in KaalagaD, that person is Leonora Gerona Robredo, or simply LENI to her millions of supporters.
Leni Robredo’s qualifications:
Style of Government
Leni Robredo’s model of government is of servant-leadership, at all times seeking the good of the people, building structures of participation and responsibility, transparent and accountable to the public.
Such a model is in stark contrast to traditional Philippine politics with its emphases on power and status, accumulation of personal wealth, distributing largesse to cronies and fellow travelers, without transparency and non- accountable to the people.
Education Background
Leni Robredo is a Filipina lawyer, earning her Law Degree from the University of Nuevo Caceres. She is also an economist, earning her Degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines. Leni has also received honorary Doctoral degrees in Public Administration, in Humanities and in Law from prestigious National Universities. Morality Standpoint
Before entering politics, Leni Robredo actively practiced her legal profession as a Human Rights lawyer.
The person who most influenced her moral and political stance was her late husband, former DILG Secretary Jessie Robredo. As Mayor of Naga City, Jessie became famous for his ‘tsinelas’ (i.e., slippers) type of leadership demonstrated through the rural grassroots and poverty alleviation program he initiated.
Leadership Style
Such focus on the good of the people became the political and social mantra for Leni herself. That is, accepting and facilitating the responsible participation of grassroots people in their own uplifting.
This is what Leni brought to her own leadership, firstly as Congresswoman, and up to the present, as the 14th Vice President of the Philippines. Leni has demonstrated her ability for authentic public service, especially in addressing the Pandemic and economic crises in spite of a very limited budget.
Leni Robredo is involved in National and International issues.
Strongly advocated against the vigilantism and violence of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, and protested the consequent culture of fear that dehumanises people.
Strongly opposed Federalism, questioning the form and model the government would implement. Her opposition raised the ire of government and resulted in an attempt to abolish the Office of the Vice President under a draft constitution.
Aggressively fought against the Death Penalty, based on her deep respect for human life, and on the absence of credible statistics linking the death penalty to a diminishing of crime.
Vowed to support Duterte’s campaign promise to push for more jobs and end Contractualization. On different occasions, she repeated this call, even while the Duterte government showed no serious move on the issue. She was quick to protest against the violent dispersals of protests against Contractualization.
Regarding Women’s Rights, Robredo voiced her strong advocacy for anti-poverty and women’s programs, stressing the importance of economic improvements for women to provide them greater freedom from abuse.
On China and The South China Sea: “on May 22, Robredo together with former Supreme Justice Associate Antonio Carpio called on the Duterte Administration to file a case against China’s militarization of the area, when a long range bomber was planted in the contested area…On the second anniversary celebration of the Philippine’s victory in the Permanent Court of Arbitration against China’s ‘Nine-dash line’ claim….She lamented the decision of the Duterte government to set aside the Philippines claim while pushing for better relations with the Republic of China. Robredo described the consequences of China’s militarisation similar to the devastation during the World War 2..”
Duterte: a failed leader, a failing government, a frightening future
In 2016 Rodrigo Duterte launched his campaign for Presidency with an audacious promise: “Change is coming!”
Duterte promised to restore peace and prosperity and eliminate poverty. Yet his first action was to instigate his infamous “War on Drugs”. This morphed into a witch hunt with tens of thousands dead and the International Criminal Court investigating the President for Extra Judicial Killings (EJK)
Where now is the evidence that Duterte’s promised Change has in fact enhanced our lives as Filipinos?
More Filipinos now live in squalor and hunger, more now are without sustainable employment
This deepening harshness of life has stoked the fires of insurgency against the government
Instead of implementing positive changes for the people, Duterte used his Anti-Terrorism Bill to muzzle those who oppose his policies. Those who speak out for real change are RED-Tagged.
Opportunities have therefore evaporated to restore a peace based on justice throughout the land.
The evidence for the Duterte Regime:
It has failed this Nation!
Duterte has lied to and betrayed the Filipino People
Yet still, Duterte is determined to hold onto power, come what may – and in whatever way he can – using all the personal and financial assets available to him, without shame nor regret.
There are still more promises to dupe the people, calling into action once again the former oligarchs who financed his 2016 campaign: the Macapagal-Arroyos, the Enriles, the Estradas, the Ramoses, and so on.
The choice is for each Filipino to make: Marcos/Duterte vs Leni Robredo.
An internal observer and commentator has this to say of the Robredo magic: “The emergence of the Robredo ‘movement’ from below is phenomenal…This is a potent force for people power as for social transformation beyond the elections. “ (Fr. Pycx Picardal)
Let’s March for a radical Change!
Let’s Move for the only real Opposition!
Let’s Make Leni Robredo the 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines!
The task before us now, if our nation is not to fail, is to cast aside ancient governments and BUILD THE FUTURE WITH LENI!
– KaalagaD Katipunang Kristyano –
