“Dapat hindi kami natatakot”: VP Leni says candidates should be ready to answer tough questions, face public scrutiny

Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday, January 24, said that candidates seeking office should be ready to answer tough questions and face public scrutiny.

“Mahalaga na kung kami ay naghahangad ng suporta ng taumbayan, kailangan handa kaming harapin kahit 'yung mahihirap na katanungan kasi dine-deserve ng taumbayan malaman kung ano 'yung katotohanan sa mga bagay na ibinabato sa amin o ano 'yung mga bagay na naririnig tungkol sa amin,” Robredo said in a media interview following the inauguration of the Leni-Kiko 2022 Volunteer Center in Dipolog City in Zamboanga Del Norte.

Robredo said that public servants should not be afraid to be scrutinized and criticized. It is a responsibility of public servants, she said, to explain clearly to the people their plans and programs for the country.

“So, dapat hindi kami natatakot sa hindi lang pagtatanong pero pagtutuligsa, kasi kaming mga public servants ang responsibility namin sa bansa ay ayusin 'yung aming inilalahad to the best of our ability. Pag kandidato ka kasi, binibigay mo 'yung sarili mo na maging subject ka for scrutiny,” she explained.

Robredo was asked if she has a message for the dictator’s son, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., who was a no-show at The Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews.

She replied: “Wala naman akong mensahe kasi choice niya naman 'yun… so wala tayong papel para pakialaman 'yung choices, hindi lang niya, pero ng iba pang mga kandidato.”

Aside from Robredo, Senators Ping Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno joined the presidential candidates interview – the first for the May 9 national elections ¬– that aired last Saturday, January 22.

Meanwhile, Robredo will join the “Bakit Ikaw? Presidential Job Interviews” sponsored by the Manila Broadcasting Company’s DZRH and The Manila Times on February 2.

In a tweet on January 23, Robredo, the only female presidential candidate, said she was always ready to face any interview, prompting her supporters to trend the hashtag #LeniMatapang on Twitter.

The Vice President said she had already agreed to the initial schedule proposed to her by the organizers but it was moved to another date, which then ran in conflict with her schedule.
“Ang totoo: I was invited to an interview with DZRH, initially set earlier this month. Ipapasok na sana sa schedule ko, but we were later told it was moved. ‘Yung bagong sched nila was already in conflict with ours, as I had other commitments lined up,” Robredo said.

She added, “Actually, puwede ako next week. Kung willing sila to adjust, i-set na natin. Handa naman ako lagi humarap.” [End]