Robredo's wish on her 57th birthday: 'Huwag tayong mapagod sa paglaban sa fake news'

Vice President Leni Robredo, who turned 57 on Saturday, said her birthday wish was for her supporters not to get tired of combating fake news as the campaign period approaches its homestretch.

The presidential candidate made the appeal as she joined thousands of supporters at a campaign rally in Pasay City, hours after clinching the endorsement of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party, which is affiliated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“Kaya ang pakiusap ko sa inyo 14 days na lang natitira para tayo magkampanya. Marami na po tayo nasabi pero dahil laban po natin ito para sa ating mga kababayan kailangan buksan natin yung ating mga puso. Huwag tayo mapanghusga, respetuhin natin yung iba ang paniniwala, pero huwag din tayong mapagod sa paglaban sa fake news,” she said in her speech.

(My request to you is that there are only 14 days left for us to campaign. We have already said a lot, but because this fight is for our countrymen, we need to open our hearts. Let's not be judgmental. Let's respect others' beliefs, but let's not get tired of fighting fake news.)

Robredo admitted that she failed to properly handle the fake news directed at her during her six years as vice president.

She cited a recent report that said Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison was an adviser to her and her campaign. The Vice President denied such a claim. 

“Noong nakaraang six years napakaraming fake news ang sinasabi sa akin, pero hindi ko masyadong pinapansin kasi sabi ko istorbo lang. Pero mali pala ako. Kailangan pag fake news sinasabi agad natin na kasinungalingan yan at yung kasinungalingan palitan natin ng katotohanan,” she said.

(In the past six years, a lot of fake news has circulated about me, but I did not pay much attention because I said it was just a nuisance. But I was wrong. If it's fake news, we must call it a lie. We must replace the lies with the truth.)

“Pag ito pong eleksyon na ito magpapanalo sa mga kandidato kasinungalingan, kawawa ang bayan natin. Kaya po ang hinihiling ko sa inyo sabay-sabay po tayo sa laban na ito, sa pagbukas po ng ating mga puso, sa pagpahaba ng ating mga pasensya. Siguraduhin din natin pinapalitan ang mga kasinungalingan ng katotohanan,” she added.

(If the liars win this election, it will be a tragedy for our country. That is why I encourage you to join us in this struggle by opening your hearts, extending your patience, and ensuring the truth replaces the lies.)

She urged her supporters to never tire of explaining to the public, including through house-to-house campaigns, adding that such a strategy is more effective in combating fake news.

“Alam ko po marami sa inyo nagpapagod maghouse to house, masaya yung mga kwento nakukuha natin pero bakit hinihikayat kayo maghouse-to-house dahil tingin po natin ito ang pinaka-epektibo na babasag sa mga kasinungalingan dahil tao sa tao, puso sa puso ang pag-uusap,” Robredo said.

(I know many of you are tired of house-to house campaigns. We heard good stories, but why did we encourage you to do house-to house campaigns? It is because we think this is the most effective way to break lies, because it is person to person, a heart-to heart conversation.)

“Yung ayaw po natin ginagawa nila sa akin wag na po natin sa kanila gawin dahil alam niyo naman maraming kabataan ngayon mas tumitino tayo, mas sumusunod tayo sa mga magulang natin pagpinaparamdam sa atin ang kanilang pagmamahal,” she explained.

(Do not do to them what they have done to me, because many young people today have become good by following their parents when they feel their love.)

Around 412,000 people attended the event in Pasay, according to organizers.

Robredo's rivals, Senator Manny Pacquiao and former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., on Saturday also held campaign rallies in San Juan City and Manila, respectively. —VBL, GMA News