Leni On Isko: ‘Hindi Na Lang Ako Papatol’; Also Denies Attempt To Sideline Ping

Presidential aspirant and Vice President Leni Robredo shrugged off the remarks of rival Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, who in his recent campaign speeches repeatedly alluded to candidates who “change colors” and who revive what he called a feud between the Aquino and Marcos families.

“Ako, alam mo, magpapaka-gentleman na lang ako, ha. Ayaw ko nang pumatol kasi mas malaki iyong mga problema natin. Tingin ko wala naman itong papapuntahan (I will be a ‘gentleman.’ I will not respond because we have bigger problems. I think this will lead to nowhere,” she said in a press conference in her Quezon City office on Friday, Oct. 15, reiterating her reason for pushing for unity talks.

Robredo said she went to a lot of people to seek avenues for unity and to engage in word war at this time would not be of help.

Robredo’s running mate, Liberal Party (LP) president and Sen. Francis Pangilinan, added that what the public is looking for are solutions to problems such as  hunger and lack of jobs, and not intrigues about personalities.

“The biggest enemy of our generation, of our entire country, is COVID-19,” he said. “This is what we should focus on. Let us discuss, debate about the solutions.”

Robredo agreed that the enemy must be clear. “‘Di ba kaya nga ako naghahanap ng pagkakaisa kasi gusto natin na focused tayo sa tunay na kalaban. So hindi na lang ako papatol,” she said.

Lacson not being sidelined

Robredo also maintained during the press conference that there was never any attempt to sideline another presidential hopeful, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, during their last meeting over a possible unity ticket in the 2022 elections.

On Thursday, Oct. 14, Lacson said he felt insulted after learning that LP stalwart Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon supposedly used hand signals during their meeting to push for the tandem of Robredo and Lacson’s running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

But the Vice President, who is running as an independent but still honorary chairperson of LP, said she never saw Drilon use hand signals to communicate such a proposal.

“There was never an intent at all to blindside or marginalize Senator Ping… We could have easily just requested Senator Sotto, if that was the intent,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino.

“There was no need for any of that because if we had a message that we did not want Senator Ping to hear, then we would have just talked to Senator Sotto. But we requested to talk to both of them,” she added.

Drilon, whom Robredo tapped to manage her senatorial slate, also denied using hand signals during the meeting.

“It was a sincere effort to seek unity. And honestly, I do not recall the hand signals… I do not know because I never communicate that way,” he added.

Watch the video here:

WATCH: Lacson Reveals He Felt ‘Insulted’ When Drilon Proposed Robredo-Sotto Tandem