Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 18) — Presidential candidate Leni Robredo said Friday unity is not about politicians banding together and pushing for their own agenda, in an apparent swipe at her fiercest rival’s slogan.
“Ang pagkakaisa, pagkakaisa ng lahat ng mga Pilipino na merong pag-ako ng responsibilidad na bahagi sila ng solusyon sa ating mga problema,” the Vice President said in a campaign rally in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.
(Translation: But unity is about uniting Filipinos, recognizing they have a responsibility that they’re part of the solution to the problems.)
The UniTeam of Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. and running mate Sara Duterte combined a number of controversial political figures and families.
Marcos always called for unity in all his campaign rallies, but some critics pointed out the lack of details about his platform.
This was not the first time Robredo talked about ‘true’ unity. In the Iloilo rally, Robredo urged voters to remember history and learn from the past. For over two decades, the country was ruled by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, where thousands were allegedly killed and tortured.
Robredo held a people’s rally Thursday at the historic Cesar Climaco Freedom Park. It was named after the late mayor who was a staunch critic of the Marcoses. He was assassinated in 1984.
If elected, the presidential hopeful said she would not promise to solve the country’s problems by herself.
“Meron kayong nararamdaman na bahagi kayo ng pamamahala. Di kayo titingnan na beneficiaries ng programa kundi titignan ko every step of the way, partner namin kayo pag-aayos ng ating pamahaalan,” she said.
(Translation: You will feel that you’re part of governance. You won’t be treated as beneficiaries, but I’ll make sure that every step of the way, you will be our partners in fixing the government.)
