Robredo to supporters: Respect choices, don't be like trolls

Vice President Leni Robredo, an aspirant for the presidency in Eleksyon 2022, appealed to her supporters not to "boycott" business establishments supporting other aspirants, saying they should respect other people's choices.

During a press conference in Naga City, Robredo expressed alarm over calls to boycott a certain restaurant in Iloilo City where former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. had a meeting. Marcos is also seeking the presidency in the coming elections.

Robredo said she was even tagged on a Facebookpost  calling for the boycott of that restaurant.

Robredo said that her camp does not encourage this kind of action, noting that despite differences in beliefs, one's choice should never be imposed on other individuals.

"Ako, na-alarm ako doon. Na-alarm ako kasi hindi naman natin ine-encourage 'yung ganitong mga actions. Kaya nga kung napapansin niyo, nag-eexert ako ng effort na magpahayag sa mga supporters na huwag natin tularan yung style ng iba," Robredo said.

(I was alarmed by that because we are not encouraging that action. If you'll notice, I'm exerting effort to remind my supporters not to imitate the style of others.)

"Na tayo, kaya di ba parati ko sinasabi 'yung term na pagmamahal, mayroon tayong differences sa paniniwala, mayroon tayong differences sa choices kung sino 'yung susuportahan, pero dapat hindi natin ini-impose 'yung choice natin sa iba," she added.

(I always mention the term "love." Even though we have differences in our beliefs and choices on who to support in the elections, we should not impose our choices on other individuals.)

She said that the boycott call contradicts what her campaign espouses.

"Ang tinutulak natin mas maging inclusive na hindi tayo mag-asta troll. Na kung mayroong mga tao na iba 'yung choices, igalang natin. Kung sa palagay natin 'yung choice niya, 'yung desisyon niya naka-base sa maling impormasyon, i-correct natin 'yung maling impormasyon," Robredo said.

(We are pushing for inclusivity and that we should not act like trolls. If other people have different choices, let us respect that. If we think that his/her choice is based on wrong information, let's correct that.)

Robredo said she knows that the election season brings divisiveness among the public, but for her part, she wants to promote unity.

"'Yung pagkakaisa dapat ngayong kampanya simulan na, hindi 'yung after the campaign, na kahit iba-iba 'yung ating paniniwala, respetuhan tayo," Robredo said.

(Unity should begin even in the campaign period. Let's respect each other despite having varying beliefs.)

According to Robredo, she informed Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas about the matter. In a separate statement posted on Facebook, the mayor, who supports Robredo's candidacy, stressed that "there is no list of establishments that are supposed to be boycotted because they are supporting Bongbong Marcos."

"Iloilo has always been a place of inclusivity not only for different political orientations, sexual preferences or even food preferences. Anyone should be able to do business in Iloilo City no matter who you support in the presidential or local elections," Treñas said.

"I have been in politics since 1986, I know what food you serve and I don't care about your political affiliations unless you become overly obnoxious because of your political preferences," he added.

He said "Iloilo city is a place where you can openly espouse who your president is without any political retaliation from the community, unless you become overly obnoxious and undesirable; if you do, do not expect people to love you in return."

Amid the issue, Marcos also called for support for local businesses despite differences as Filipinos are trying to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

"May mga pagkakaiba man, huwag nating idamay ang mga negosyo ng mga taong naghahayag ng kanilang paninindigan. Pare-pareho po tayong bumabangon sa pandemya upang maitaguyod ang ating mga pamilya. Tulungan natin imbes na hadlangan ang ating kapwa guminhawa," he said in a Facebook post.

(Even though we have differences, let's not drag local businesses into it. We are all trying to recover from the pandemic. Let's help other people instead.)—LDF, GMA News