Vice President Leni Robredo reads out placards of supporters in Silang, Cavite on Friday, March 4, 2022. (Image from her Facebook account)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Vice President Leni Robredo, who is running for president, on Sunday quashed rumors spreading online and through text messages linking her and her volunteers to the (CPP) and New People鈥檚 Army (NPA).
鈥淢any said they received this [text message]. Then there鈥檚 the nonstop red-tagging of me and my volunteers. There鈥檚 also the allegation that I would form a coalition government with the CPP-NPA-NDF. To be clear about it: It鈥檚 a lie,鈥� Robredo said.
The NDF stands for National Democratic Front, which the government declared a terrorist organization in 2021, as it did the CPP-NPA.
The 鈥渞ed-tagging鈥� came after her March 4 grand rally in Cavite with her running mate, Sen. Francis Pangilinan.
鈥淥nce and for all: Left, right, up, down 鈥� we are ready to listen to everyone, as long as they are ready to work to lift the lives of Filipinos,鈥� Robredo said.
She said did not believe in violence as a solution to problems and that she would oppose anyone who would use weapons to push their agenda.
She said all her co-workers were aware of this 鈥� including those in the uniformed services who appeared to be the target of this type of misinformation.
鈥淚 will not form an alliance with such people or those who believe in them. My priority is to work in a peaceful way for the dignity of every person, for the empowered and responsible exercise of freedoms, and fairness,鈥� she said.
鈥淪o please. Do you want to hold back the momentum of the people鈥檚 campaign? Try harder. Or better yet: Why don鈥檛 you just join? Let鈥檚 win this.鈥�
On Saturday, the CPP and the NDF both denied talking with Robredo 鈥� or any of the other presidential candidates 鈥� about the formation of a coalition government.
All this developed after another presidential candidate, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, warned Robredo of a possible 鈥渃ommunist infiltration鈥� in her campaign.
He was referring to the alleged presence of CPP legal fronts during the Cavite grand rally, which was attended by an estimated 47,000 people.
In reaction, Robredo鈥檚 spokesperson, Barry Gutierrez, said that the 鈥渂latant鈥� and persistent鈥� red-tagging was a new low.. He said rival candidates might only be using fear-mongering to dampen the energy of the vice president鈥檚 people鈥檚 campaign.
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