'The Authentic Opposition Leader': Where Does Presidential Aspirant Leni Robredo Stand on Key Issues

This article is part of The Beat Asia’s coverage of the Philippines’ 2022 elections. To see the rest of our elections-related stories, click here.

Maria Leonor "Leni" Gerona Robredo is the 14th vice president of the Philippines and is the wife of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. Known as the fierce face of the opposition, Robredo has criticized President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs campaign and pro-China policies.

In 2016, Robredo won in the vice-presidential elections under the political machinery of the Liberal Party. Now, she is running for the highest government position as an independent candidate as a "symbolic way" to show inclusivity. In the countdown to the high-stakes 2022 elections, let us take a look at the lone female presidential bet's stand on important national issues.

Economy

In her opening keynote speech during the 47th Philippine Business Conference and Exposition last Nov. 17, 2021, Robredo said her top priority is economic recovery if elected president.

She aspires to build a “trustworthy, empowering, and agile government” and restore confidence after suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Majority of funds will be put on the agricultural sector to create jobs, increase employment, and produce food.

In line with her job recovery plan, dubbed as “Hanapbuhay Para sa Lahat” (Jobs for All), Robredo wants to rebuild public trust in the government by reviving local industries, ending discrimination in the workplace, and modernizing the system to eradicate red tape.

COVID-19 Response

In a bid to improve the country’s healthcare system, Robredo plans to double the government's healthcare spending, increase hospital beds, hire more healthcare workers, and procure additional hospital equipment. If elected, Robredo also plans to appoint top medical experts and representatives to recalibrate the country’s pandemic response where everything shall be based on science.

If she wins the presidency, she pledges to make COVID-19 testing accessible for Filipinos and free for healthcare workers and teachers, as well as centralize the contact tracing system. She will also push for healthcare workers’ hazard pay, paid COVID-19 leaves, medical insurance, and food and transportation allowance.

Despite limited budget, the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) COVID-19 response efforts launched successful projects and programs in helping health care frontliners, marginalized and disadvantaged sectors, and senior citizens during the pandemic

She launched the swab cab project among communities with a high COVID-19 infection rate. The OVP also initiated the free telemedicine program called the Bayanihan E-konsulta to avoid overcrowding in hospitals and assist those who need proper medical attention, especially those in the NCR Plus areas (Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal).

West Philippine Sea

Robredo said she is willing to work with China to discuss the dispute regarding the West Philippine Sea (WPS) region, but only if China acknowledges the Philippines' rights and recognizes the arbitral ruling over the territorial waters.

Stressing the need for a multilateral approach, she believes that an inclusive and independent foreign policy would be beneficial for the Philippines, especially when it comes to a possible oil exploration deal with China. With this, Robredo will prioritize the protection of Filipinos and continue to strengthen relations with the Philippines’ oldest ally – the United States.

Poverty

Once Duterte’s housing czar, Robredo pledges an annual P50-billion budget for socialized housing for the urban poor. She also wants to provide jobs via her “Kabuhayan Para sa Lahat” program. 

Among her anti-poverty projects, the OVP’s TrabaHOPE program provides daily allowance to those aged 18-30 years old who are qualified for YouthWorks PH. In 2018, the Angat Buhay partnership with the OVP served 724 underfed children aged 6 to 59 months, reportedly reducing the number of undernourished children in select barangays by 88%.

Corruption

According to Robredo, all forms of corruption, especially during the pandemic, are inexcusable. In an interview last Dec. 10, she said those involved in graft and corruption practices, whether a political rival or not, will be punished under her administration.

She highlighted that the most important measure to prevent corruption is to empower the Filipinos through a feedback mechanism where they can report corrupt activities happening in any government office.

To curb corruption between the government and the players, Robredo will eliminate the person-to-person transactions among top revenue-generating agencies including the Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Political Dynasty

According to Robredo, only one member of their family is allowed to run for any elected post at a time. In 2013, she toppled a well-entrenched political clan in CamSur where she won as representative of the third district.

Insurgency

In a report from the Inquirer in December 2021, Robredo said a purely military-led approach is not the solution to fight the decades-long communist insurgency. Instead, the root cause of uprising—such as landlessness and poverty—must be addressed, too. In December 2021, she clarified her stance on the controversial National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), saying that while she supports its mandate, the task force’s red-tagging must be called out.

She also urged the civil society, private sector, and even the Church to join her with the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines, its armed wing, the New People’s Army, and its political arm, the National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

Death Penalty

As a human rights lawyer before becoming a public servant, Robredo believes the death penalty is not the solution to crime prevention. Instead, leaders must strengthen the criminal justice system in the Philippines.

“May death penalty na tayo noon at yung datos nagpapakita na hindi talaga siya naging deterrent sa pag-commit ng crime,” she said in an interview. (Our country carried out the death penalty before but data showed that it is not an effective method of crime deterrence.)

She said, however, that the final decision remains in the hands of the legislature.

Same-sex Marriage

Robredo said no to same-sex marriage but supports same-sex “unions” as long as there is no negative effect on others.

“Who are we going to love and who are we going to live with is a basic human right,” Robredo was quoted as saying.

Divorce

In 2016, Robredo said the annulment system must be fixed first before tackling divorce. However, in a yes-or-no segment during an interview with Jessica Soho in January, Robredo said "no" to divorce.

Acknowledging her conflicting feelings regarding abortion, Robredo said while she does not agree with it for now, she is open to discussions with advocates. 

Environmental Concerns

Robredo vows to combat climate change and carbon emissions using a more comprehensive approach without compromising the energy industry, especially during the modernization of more climate-friendly jeepneys and public transportation vehicles. The affected drivers will also be provided with an alternative source of income.

She plans to build a roadmap that will cut down electricity prices across the country. To pursue this program, power generation and distribution firms that would facilitate the country’s shift to renewable energy resources must be involved.

If elected, Robredo pledges to cancel Executive Order No. 130, which Duterte signed in April 2021 and lifts the moratorium on mineral agreements. "I am not for an absolute ban on mining but I am for a more responsible mining," Inquirer quoted Robredo as saying in a virtual dialogue with the Women Lawyers for Leni last January.

Fake News

The Vice President believes social media networks should be held accountable for the proliferation of fake news, saying that our laws should keep up with the demands of the time.

She urged Filipinos to help fight fake news before our society “end[s] up being ran by lies. Because peddlers are not being held into account, they are not punished."