Gonzales apologizes to Robredo over Moreno's withdrawal call

Former Defense Secretary and presidential candidate Norberto Gonzales formally apologized to Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday as he admitted feeling “uncomfortable” over Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso’s call for her to withdraw from Eleksyon 2022.

“I’m sorry about that… hindi ganoon ang tingin namin sa magiging presscon. Akala namin it’s the beginning of a very happy feeling na nagkakasundo kami, nagtutulungan kami after elections,” he said in an interview on ANC’s Headstart.

“I’m apologizing to her because what we need is something better after the elections, whoever wins,” he added.

Presidential candidate and former Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella said in a GMA Regional TV report that there had been no intention to ask Robredo to withdraw her candidacy.

Abella underscored that they only agreed to support whoever wins the May 2022 polls.

He said that he was not in favor of Moreno’s call for Robredo to withdraw in the upcoming elections, adding that he was only focused on his campaign and building the nation.

Gonzales and fellow candidates Moreno and Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson held a media conference over the weekend during which they declared that they were determined to finish the presidential race. Abella was supposed to be part of the press conference but did not attend the Sunday event.

Meanwhile, the three candidates also decried supposed calls from Robredo’s camp for them to withdraw, with Gonzales even naming ex-Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon as among those who urged him to back out.

Domagoso, in turn, challenged Robredo to make the “supreme sacrifice” and drop out of the race — a remark both Lacson and Gonzales distanced themselves from.

“There was no intention of asking the Vice-president to withdraw. I think Mayor Isko may have been carried away in the heat of the question and answer but there was no agreement whatsoever that we will ask anyone to withdraw,” Gonzales said.

“I was uncomfortable there because wala sa usapan,” he said.

(I was uncomfortable there because it was not part of our discussion.)

Gonzales further clarified he had nothing against the incumbent vice-president, recognizing she had the best chance to beat former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who was at the forefront based on pre-election surveys.

He further explained that they met to show the public they were willing to work together after the elections and that they were prepared to combine forces should there be efforts to subvert the national elections.

“The spirit that we are trying to project here is as early as this time, dapat pagkatapos ng eleksyon—kung wala namang dayaan, kung wala namang subversive activities—time to think reconciliation, cooperation, we will work together. Because like it or not, malala ang problema ng bayan,” he said.

(The spirit that we are trying to project here, as early as this time, after the elections—if there’s no cheating or subversive activities—time to think of reconciliation, cooperation, we will work together. Because like it or not, our country is facing a lot of problems.) — Sundy Locus/DVM, GMA News