Leni says she feels unworthy to be compared to Cory

MANILA, Philippines - Liberal Party (LP) vice presidential bet Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo believes she is unworthy to be compared to the late president Corazon “Cory” Aquino, who assumed power after the 1986 People Power revolt.

Robredo said while she views the comparison as an honor, Aquino’s sacrifice was greater than hers.

“That will be an honor considering her (Aquino) contribution to the country but I am different from her. We occupied posts after our husbands died but I think Cory had more sacrifices,” she said in a recent press briefing.

“She lived in more difficult times. I would be very unworthy if I say that we’ve been through the same experience,” she added.

Robredo has been compared to Aquino as both widows posed challenge to members of the influential Marcos family.

Aquino, the wife of opposition leader Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., became known as an icon of democracy for leading the struggle against the dictatorship of former President Ferdinand Marcos.

Robredo, meanwhile, is the toughest rival of Marcos’ son Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the 2016 vice presidential race.

Aquino’s husband was assassinated at the Manila International Airport in 1983. Robredo’s husband, former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, died in a plane crash in Masbate in 2012. 

“I think she (Aquino) experienced more hardships. Her husband died because of the wrongdoings of men. My husband died because of an accident,” Robredo said.

Robredo is leading Marcos by more than 200,000 votes as of this writing.