VICE President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo and her running mate, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, admitted the biggest challenge they are facing now in their campaign for the country’s two highest posts is how to fight false information circulating on social media.
Robredo and Pangilinan made the statement when they visited Cebu on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
In an interview with reporters at the St. Scholastica’s Academy in Talisay City, Robredo encouraged her supporters to fight disinformation which has continuously been peddled during and even before the campaign period.
Robredo added that the access to correct information will allow the public to fully grapple with the necessary facts that they will need in deciding who will lead them in the next six years.
“We owe our kababayan nothing less but to give them access to the truth. Kung ano ang katotohanan (Whatever is the truth) whether sa tatay or sa anak, kailangan may (about the father or the son, there must be) access,” Robredo added.
Even before she won as vice president, Robredo and members of the opposition have been the subject of several attacks from internet trolls.
After filing her certificate of candidacy for president in October, Robredo and her team had to deal with various attacks circulating online, including allegations that some of her gatherings were due to them bribing their supporters.
Tsek.PH, an academe-based fact-checking initiative launched in 2019, earlier reported that Robredo has been the “biggest victim” of disinformation in social media while Robredo’s rival, former senator and dictator’s son Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., is the beneficiary of positive but misleading messaging on social media.
Robredo, however, is confident that she can still pull a win in Cebu just like what happened during the 2016 national polls wherein she dominated Marcos Jr. in the vice presidential race.
Leni visits Talisay
Robredo and Pangilinan earlier visited Barangay Tanke in Talisay City to talk to fisherfolk there concerning their sentiments on the proposed P10 billion Cebu South Harbor and Container Terminal Complex that was set to be constructed there.
Robredo said the fisherfolk have told her that the construction of the container port has affected their daily income.
Robredo said the national government should have provided enough assistance to the affected fishermen while the project is still ongoing.
Though she felt guilty that she was only able to visit the area to campaign, Robredo assured the locals that her office will send help and assistance.
Robredo said that during her term as former congresswoman of Camarines Sur’s Third District and then as vice president, she provided projects for fishing communities in various parts of the country.
She hopes to introduce those projects that can be replicated in Barangay Tanke.
“Sisiguraduhin natin na hindi kami dumako dito dahil kampanya, pero sisiguraduhin namin na ang pinapaabot ninyo sa amin ay hindi naman nasayang,” said Robredo.
After talking to fisherfolk in Tanke, Robredo and Pangilinan visited St. Scholastica’s Academy in Barangay Tabunok where they received blessings and prayers from the priests and nuns of the school.
During the interview, Robredo said she welcomes the support from the religious sector since they have the machinery on the ground to fight disinformation. (IRT)