Metro Manila, Philippines — Former Vice President Leni Robredo said she is open to political alliances but joining forces with Marcos supporters would require aligning fundamental differences.
She told NewsWatch Plus in an exclusive interview that first and foremost is threshing out differences in “misaligned” beliefs in values and leadership.
“Sa ’kin walang problema to work with government pagdating sa programa pero siguro to join forces sa pulitika, maraming considerations eh,” Robredo told “Zoom In.”
“Una, sobrang [misaligned] ng mga paniniwala namin as far as ‘yung values, as far as ‘yung klase ng leadership saka governance na pinapaniwalaan,” she added. “So kung mag jo-join forces, papaano namin ita-traverse yon?”
[Translation: For me, there’s nothing wrong in working with the government in terms of programs; but to join forces in politics, there are many considerations. Our beliefs are misaligned as far as values, leadership style, and governance are concerned. So if we join forces, how can we traverse that?]
Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV proposed the “pink” forces, which described Robredo’s movement during the 2022 national elections, to unite with the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the 2025 midterm polls and defeat the possible senatorial run of three Dutertes.
In June, Vice President Sara Duterte said her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and brothers Paolo and Sebastian plan to run for the Senate.
Robredo, who ran an independent campaign, lost to Marcos by a wide margin.
Robredo narrowly defeated Marcos in the 2016 vice presidential race.
“Kasi ang ayaw natin mangyari to send a message na just to win elections isasantabi na natin yung mga paniniwala natin,” Robredo said.
[Translation: What we don’t want to happen is to send a message that just to win elections, we would set aside our beliefs.]
‘I’m not opposition leader anymore’
Robredo said she’s no longer the leader of the opposition, and she had “[passed] on the baton” to Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who holds the highest position in government among the opposition.
Hontiveros herself rejected an alliance with the Marcos forces.
“Bagamat mahalaga mapigilan ‘yung pagbalik sa ganap na kapangyarihan ng mga Duterte, at the same time, may mga unresolved issues sa ating kasaysayan ng mga human rights violations at plunder, panahon ng martial law dictatorship,” Hontiveros said.
“I think may unique offer ang oposisyon in terms of a vision at saka platform of governance,” she said.
[Translation: While it is important to stop the return to power of the Dutertes, at the same time, there are unresolved issues in our history of human rights violations and plunder, and the martial law dictatorship. I think the opposition has a unique offer in terms of a vision and platform of governance.]
