Robredo denounces red-tagging, belies ‘malicious’ text messages

Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo denounced red-tagging efforts on Sunday, as she belied supposed text messages quoting her praising Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison.

In a post on her official Facebook account, Robredo belied claims that she will form a coalition government with the CPP, the New People’s Army (NPA), and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF).

“Andami daw nakatanggap nito kagabi. Tapos non-stop ang red-tagging sa akin at sa ating volunteers. May paandar pang bubuo daw ako ng coalition government kasama ang CPP-NPA-NDF. Para klaro: kasinungalingan ito,” she said.

“Once and for all: Kaliwa, kanan, taas, baba, lahat handa tayong pakinggan — basta tapat, mapayapa, at handang magtrabaho para iangat ang buhay ng Pilipino,” she added.

(A lot of people received this last night. There has been non-stop red-tagging on me and our volunteers. There have also been claims that I will form a coalition government with the CPP-NPA-NDF. To make this clear: these are lies.

Once and for all: left, right, up, down, we are ready to listen to all — as long as they are honest, peaceful, and ready to lift the lives of Filipinos.)

This comes after text messages were circulated after a campaign rally in Isabela, quoting Robredo in a supposed interview with Rappler on March 9, 2022.

“Joma Sison is a true patriot of the country. I will make sure he will finally return home this year if I win. He deserves to be named a national hero,” Robredo was quoted as saying.

In her post, Robredo said that those who truly know her know that she does not believe in violence to solve problems and that she does not believe in picking up arms to push self-interests.

Robredo also clarified that she will not ally herself with such individuals, and her priority is to work peacefully for the dignity of all, the empowered and responsible exercise of freedoms, and fairness.

“Alam ‘yan ng lahat ng katrabaho ko, kasama na ang mga nasa uniformed services, na mukhang sila ang tinatarget ng mga ganitong disinformation at propaganda. Kaya pwede ba,” she said.

“Gusto niyong pigilin ang momentum ng People’s Campaign? Try harder. O better yet: Sumali na lang kaya kayo? Ipanalo na natin ‘to,” she continued.

(All my coworkers know this, including those in the uniformed service who seem to be targeted by this information and propaganda. You want to stop the momentum of the People’s Campaign? Try harder. Or better yet: why not join us? Let’s win this.)

In a separate post, Robredo also denied claims she was wed at 15 years old to a member of the CPP-NPA, and that her late husband, former Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, was her second husband.

The reports also claim that Robredo bore a child from her supposed first husband whom she abandoned, which she also denied.

Robredo said she was in her junior year of high school then, and her high school and college classmates can attest that she did not take a leave of absence and graduated at the age of 21.

“Ngayon na marami nang natauhan, binubuhay na naman ang mga ito. Kawawa naman ‘yung mga napapaniwala nila. Hindi naman ako ang lugi dahil sa dulo ng lahat, laging katotohanan ang mananaig,” she said.

“Kung naniniwala ka pa, pagdadasal na lang kita,” she added.

[Now that a number of people have come to a realization, disinformation like this is resurfacing. I pity those who believe. I am not shortchanged because at the end of it all, the truth will always prevail… If you still believe, I will just pray for you.] — DVM/BM, GMA News