Get to know Leni Robredo before elections 2022; her background, educational and political achievements, and other details.
The May 9, 2022 elections are just a few weeks away. It is high time that we get to know our candidates so we can choose the right people to take the highest positions in our country. The Know Your Elections 2022 Candidate is a series of blogs containing fact-based information from the candidates’ official websites and other credible sources.
Below is the list of Presidential Candidates for Elections 2022 included in this series:
- Leody de Guzman
- Isko Moreno Domagoso
- Ping Lacson
- Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
- Manny Pacquiao
- Leni Robredo
Below is the list of Vice Presidential Candidates for Elections 2022 included in this series:
Presidential Candidate: Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo a.k.a Leni Robredo
Leni Robredo is the presidential aspirant of the Leni-Kiko tandem, with Senator Kiko Pangilinan as her running partner. Below are her personal, educational, and political details.
Leni Robredo: Personal Information
Born on April 23, 1965, in Naga City, Camarines Sur, Leni Robredo is a daughter of Antonio Gerona Sr. and Salvacion Gerona. She is the widow of former DILG Secretary and Naga City Mayor Jesse M. Robredo. She also has three daughters: Aika Robredo, Tricia Robredo, and Jillian Robredo.
Leni Robredo: Educational Information
After finishing her Economics degree at the University of the Philippines – Diliman in 1986, she then proceeded with Law School at the University of Nueva Caceres. On her second attempt, she passed the Philippine Bar Exams in 1997.
She also attained various honorary degrees listed below:
- Doctor in Public Administration given by Polytechnic University of the Philippines (2015)
- Doctor of Humanities awarded by the University of Saint Anthony in Naga City (2017)
- Doctor of Laws by the University of the Cordilleras in Baguio City (2017)
Leni Robredo: Non-political Work History
Before her affiliation with politics, Leni Robredo performed various jobs in the education and legal sector.
- Researcher and economist, Bicol River Basin Development Program Office (1986 – 1987)
- Economic Professor, Universidad de Sta. Isabel (1987 – 1997)
- Lawyer, Public Attorney’s Office (1997 – 1999)
- Lawyer and Branch Coordinatot, Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN) – Bicol Chapter (13 years)
- Founder, Lakas ng Kababaihan in Naga (1992)
- President, Naga City Council for Women (2008 – 2010)
During her time as a lawyer in PAO, she rendered legal services to indigent litigants. She also provided legal education for clients through legal clinics and helped them understand relevant laws by translating and publishing Bicol Versions of the text.
Leni Robredo: Political Information
It was until 2013 that Leni Robredo’s political career began.
- 3rd District Congresswoman, Province of Camarines Sur (2013 – 2016)
- Vice President of the Philippines (2016 – present)
She was also the chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council in 2016 and the Co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) in 2019. In addition, she is vice-chairman of the Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability and on Revision of Laws.
Below is the list of committees she was a part of:
- Appropriations
- Bicol Recovery and Economic Development
- Climate Change
- Human Rights
- Land Use
- Local Government
- People’s Participation
- Rural Development
- Suffrage and Electoral Reforms
- Welfare of Children
- Women and Gender Equality
Accomplishments
During her time as a Congresswoman of the 3rd District of Camarines Sur, she has passed 7 laws and 5 bills filed.
Below is the list of laws she has passed:
- Republic Act RA10638
- ‘Philippine National Railways Charter Extension,’ an act extending the corporate life of the Philippine National Railways for another 50 years which was enacted on June 16, 2014
- Republic Act RA10742
- ‘Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015,’ an act establishing reforms in the Sangguniang Kabataan creating enabling mechanisms for meaningful youth participation in nation-building, which was enacted on January 15, 2016
- Republic Act RA10708
- ‘Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act,’ an act promoting fiscal accountability and transparency in the grant and management of tax incentives which was enacted on December 9, 2015
- Republic Act RA10665
- ‘Open High School System Act,’ an act establishing and appropriating funds for the open high school system in the Philippines which was enacted on July 9, 2015
- Republic Act RA10643
- ‘Graphic Health Warnings Law,’ an act prescribing the printing of graphic health warnings on tobacco products which was enacted on November 15, 2014
- Republic Act RA10655
- ‘Decriminalizing Premature Marriage,’ an act decriminalizing premature marriages which was enacted on March 13, 2015
- Republic Act RA10707
- ‘Strengthening the Probation System,’ an act rationalizing and strengthening the probation system and amending the “Probation Law of 1976”, which was enacted on November 26, 2015
- Republic Act RA10756
- ‘Election Service Reform Act,’ an act rendering election service non-compulsory for public school teachers which was enacted on April 8, 2016
Below is the list of bills she has filed as Congresswoman:
- House Bill 3432
- Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination
- House Bill 4021
- Healthy Beverage Options Act of 2014
- House Bill 4911
- People Empowerment Bill
- House Bill 5829
- Act to declare the month of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- House Bill 5841
- Agrarian Reform Commission Act
After becoming Vice President of the Philippines in 2016, she made way for the beginning of the Office of the Vice President’s flagship anti-poverty program, Angat Buhay. Moreover, the program aims to solve six key areas: food security and nutrition, women empowerment, education, healthcare, rural development, and housing.
She also launched the Istorya ng Pag-asa program that features stories of Filipinos through words and portraits. Events, exhibits, and social media then feature these stories.
President Rodrigo Duterte assigned Leni Robredo sa ICAD (Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs) co-chair in 2019. Her time in the position aimed to make the anti-illegal drug campaign more holistic, data-driven, and with a human approach. In addition, she released a report on the current state of the campaign and the various gaps to be filled, including their solutions. However, after 18 days in the position, PRRD dismissed Leni from her post.
Below is the list of projects she headed during her term as Vice President:
- Pandemic Response
- Vaccination of drivers
- Distribution of testing kits, PPE, face masks, and food packs on a daily basis since the pandemic
- Housing Projects
- Computer Learning Hubs
- Dormitory for front liners and students
- Free transport for front liners in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu
- Community e-commerce
- Bayanihan E-konsulta
- Social Services to far-flung villages (Laylayan)
- TrabaHope, job training to out-of-school youth in coordination with USAID
- Assistance to community and micro-entrepreneurs
- Workshop for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs
Awards and Citations
- Highest Audit Rating from the Commission on Audit (COA)
- Professionalization of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) with ISO certification.
Trending Topics
Allegations of using religion to campaign
After her visit to the religious leaders of the Cathedral-Shrine and Parish of the Good Shepherd in Novaliches, Quezon City, in March, presidential aspirant Leni Robredo faced criticisms. Also, her visits to churches during her rallies further spurred the allegations.
However, Leni and her camp denied these statements. In an interview after her meeting with the volunteers in Cavite, she responded to the allegations and explained that her visits to the church are to ask for help in fighting disinformation:
“Yung pagpunta natin sa simbahan very defined ‘yung dahilan. At ‘yung pinakadahilan talaga kung bakit kailangan natin hingiin ang tulong ng simbahan, gusto natin silang gumalaw dito sa fight natin against disinformation.” (Our visits to the church have very defined reasons. And the very reason why we need help from the church is we want them to move in the fight against disinformation.)
Atty. Barry Gutierrez, the spokesperson of Leni Robredo, also released a statement. He clarified that the the parishes sponsored and organized the visits, held only for “conversation and prayer” and not for campaign events.
“Kung desisyon ng parokya na i-offer yung espasyo, tiwala kami na dahil yun sinasalamin ni VP Leni ang prinsipyo at paniniwala nila,” he added. (If it is the parish’s decision to offer the space, we trust that it is because VP Leni embodies their principles and beliefs.)
Alleged pay for rally attendees
In a DZRH radio program that aired on March 5, Cavite 7th Representative Jesus Crisping “Boying” Remulla claimed that a campaign rally on General Trias had paid attendees PHP 500 each.
He did not mention any names. However, there was a rally on March 4 at the General Trias Sports Park with 47,000 supporters of the Leni-Kiko tandem. He also mentioned the color pink, which is the campaign colors of Leni Robredo.
Moreover, Remulla mentioned that there were students that looked like “activists” trained by the National Democratic Front.
Leni Robredo’s supporters responded to these allegations. The Robredo People’s Council (RPC) – Cavite (posted on social media by Cavite 6th District Board Member Kerby Salazar) released a statement that the participants showed up due to volunteerism.
Her supporters clarified that “no one was brought and bought with PHP 500 in exchange for participating in the said rally.” – WhatALife!
Source: (cnnphilippines.com), (mb.com.ph), (newsinfo.inquirer.net), (ovp.gov.ph), (peoplaid.com)
Also Read: Know Your Elections 2022 Presidential Candidate: Bongbong Marcos (BBM)
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