FACT CHECK: Moreno’s Statement On Why Robredo Chose Pink As Campaign Color Needs Context

Claim: Presidential candidate Manila Mayor Isko Moreno questioned the decision of his rival Vice President Leni Robredo to use pink as campaign color during a press conference on Easter Sunday, April 17 with two other bets – Sen. Panfilo Lacson and former defense secretary Norberto Gonzales.

Moreno claimed that Robredo chose to do away with the Liberal Party’s “yellow” color because it would mean slim chances of winning against former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the current frontrunner in the presidential race if pre-election surveys were to be believed, because of the people’s much hatred toward the “yellows.”

“Bakit tumakbong pink si Leni wherein she is the chairman of [the] Liberal Party who is yellow? Because they know for a fact na ‘pag ginamit nila ‘yung dilaw, hindi sila mananalo sa Marcos dahil sobra ang galit ng tao sa dilaw,” Moreno said during the press conference at The Manila Peninsula hotel in Makati City.

He later clarified he has nothing against the “yellows” but only wanted to highlight the statement of Gonzales that Robredo’s use of pink was meant to deviate attention from members of the Liberal Party.

“Hindi ako galit sa dilaw ah. It has nothing to do with anybody pero para madiinan ‘yung sinabi ni [Gonzales], baka nga sa sobrang ayaw sa dilaw na minukhang pink pero dilaw pa rin, nagmumukhang ‘Hindi kayu-kayo pa rin ‘yan eh.’ Kaya ‘yung galit ng tao sa dilaw, siyang pinakikinabangan ni former senator Bongbong Marcos,” he said.

Rating: Needs context

Facts:

Before Robredo declared her candidacy for the presidency on Oct. 7, 2021, her supporters on social media urged others to wear pink to support the Vice President. The choice of color, according to 1Sambayan convenor and former education secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, was a surprise to everyone closest to the Vice President. 1Sambayan endorsed Robredo for president.

Related reading: Leni Surprises With Own Campaign Color, Independent Stance; Supporters Respond With Tears, Pink Images And Heart Emojis

In a press conference a day later, Oct. 8, Robredo explained that her decision to use pink as a campaign color was because of its emergence as a color of protest and activism.

Related reading: Leni: Pink Is The Color Of Protest

“Iyong nilalabanan natin ngayon, mas malaki na kaysa sa laban pa dati. Ang nilalabanan natin ngayon hindi lang iyong pagbabalik ng anak ng diktador, pero ang nilalabanan natin ngayon, masamang pamamahala na siya iyong nagiging sanhi ng mga problemang piangdadaanan natin ngayon (What we are fighting now is larger than the fight before. What we are fighting now is not just the return of the dictator’s son, but we are fighting bad governance that has been the cause of the problems we are facing right now),” Robredo said.

“Iyong pink ngayon ay siya iyong lumalabas na global symbol [for] protest and activism. Again, global siya, hindi lang dito sa Pilipinas. Since last year, ito na iyong naging simbolo (The color pink is being used as a global symbol for protest and activism. Again, it is global, not just here in the Philippines. Since last year, this has been the symbol),” she added.

Robredo also stressed that running as an independent candidate was a “symbolic way” of being open to forge alliances with other parties.

“Iyong aming sinusulong na inclusivity, iyong sinimulan namin na pakikipag-usap kahit hindi bahagi ng partido. Iyong pagkakandidato naman para sa pangulo ay hindi para sa partido pero para sa nagkakaisang lakas ng sambayanan (What we are pushing for is inclusivity, what we started in the talks even though they are not part of the party. Running for the presidency is not only for one party but for the whole nation),” she said.

Why it matters:

The press conference was livestreamed on Moreno’s official Facebook page, which earned 33,000 reactions, 37,000 comments and 7,300 shares.

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