Philippine Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo said she is not a member of “Tindig Pilipinas,” a multi-sector coalition that calls for an end to the alleged spate of killings related to President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.
Robredo made the clarification more than a week after attending a mass organized by the group during the 45th anniversary of martial law declared by former President Ferdinand Marcos on September 21.
Duterte earlier declared the date as the National Day of Protest to pave way for Filipinos’ “call against all excesses and shortcomings of the government” and their “desire to uphold the highest standards of integrity, efficiency, and accountability in government.”
“I am not part of Tindig Pilipinas. I was only invited along with those who are part of the fight against martial law before. That mass was important because it was a commemoration of the long period of struggle,” Robredo clarified.
The vice president noted that groups like Tindig Pilipinas should be “organic and coming from ordinary citizens, without the meddling of politicians.”
“The moment politicians take part in that, it’s as though their intentions are tainted in doubt, and the discussion detracts from the true issue,” said Robredo, who also chairs the Liberal Party (LP) group which took the opposition role in the current administration.
“Politicians like us will only adversely affect movements like this, because our intentions will be in doubt,” she added.
Tindig Pilipinas was launched on September 18. Senators Francis Pangilinan, Antonio Trillanes IV, and Risa Hontiveros, and Magdalo party-list Rep. Gray Alejano of the Minority bloc attended the group’s launch.
Former Aquino cabinet members—former spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, former peace adviser Teresita Deles, and former Education secretary Bro. Armin Luistro—were also seen at the event.
On Wednesday, September 27, the group asked Duterte to either resign from his post of sign a waiver for his bank accounts amid Trillanes’ allegations that the president had billions-worth deposits.
Duterte previously said he will resign if proven that he has bank transactions amounting to billions of pesos.
