Over 200 groups urge Leni to run for president

MANILA, Philippines — More than 200 groups representing different sectors and grassroots organizations across the country are support ing calls urging Vice President Leni Robredo to run for president next year.

The groups, which volunteers said had around 500,000 members, held a virtual gathering on Monday to highlight Robredo’s leadership during the pandemic.

The program featured beneficiaries of various initiatives of the Office of the Vice President as well as the signing of a manifesto expressing support to Robredo should she decide to run for higher office.

“Vice President Robredo’s leadership quality is already a cut above the rest and it stood out even more during the pandemic,” said Team Leni Robredo convenor Joseph Quesada.

“Despite her office’s meager budget, the Vice President has managed to find ways to help provide the needs of our frontline health workers like personal protective equipment,” said Gia Sison of the Healthcare Workers For Leni.

Various groups have launched their respective campaigns urging the Vice President to run for president.

Some 700 health care workers signed a statement, noting the need for good governance in order for the country to effectively respond to the pandemic.

“While we are in the frontlines, we see the confusion of the local government units with regard to their COVID-19 policies because there was no single clear policy statement from the national health leadership,” they said.

“With heavy hearts, we had to refuse patients pleading to be cared for because our hospitals were already full. Sadly, this has happened in repeated cycles during the surges. It feels like we are back in March 2020 all over again,” they added.

Robredo, they said, is the kind of leader who is capable of and determined in restoring good governance, decency and respect among Filipinos.

“We believe she will lead us to a healthier Philippines,” they added.

Over 300 lawyers earlier signed a similar unity statement.

“As the entire country bears the brunt of the COVID pandemic, we see how the brazen disregard for the rule of law kills all hope and undermines efforts to save lives and bring our country back on its feet,” they said.

“In these very challenging times, we need a president who understands that the restoration of respect for the rule of law is crucial. We need a president who believes that the rule of law cannot be brushed aside on a whim, or for the sake of expediency. We need a president who values human rights and human lives. We need a president who is for the law, for the country and for the people,” the lawyers said.

To show their solidarity with the Vice President’s efforts to address various issues, the group launched a free online legal assistance program and information desk.

“As lawyers, we have seen how respect for the rule of law has deteriorated in the past five years. A lot of times, the law was used to serve personal interests of a few instead of being an instrument to bring social justice,” said the group’s spokesman Ram Ramos.