In nine days, Filipinos are about to make one of the most crucial decisions in their lives—exercising their right to vote—collectively impacting the future of our country. Voting is part of our fundamental civic responsibility, and the spirit of democracy is fostered when we use this as an avenue to create social impact by selecting the right leaders for our country.
We’ve suffered the blows of autocratic leadership and oppressive administration that blatantly dismissed human rights and protection of citizen welfare; the values of humanism and morality have been trashed, such as with the World Report 2021 by the Human Rights Watch stating that 5,903 individuals were killed by members of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency during the anti-drug operations from July 1, 2016 to September 30, 2020. On the other hand, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights noted a death toll of 8,663. Press freedom is under assault; journalists are being accused, red-tagged, and murdered for reporting and safeguarding the truth under the Duterte administration.
This is only a fraction of the numerous problems that have put us in the trenches for years—dimming the spirit of humanity and democracy in our nation. We are nearing the start of something new and this editorial is partaking in the urgent call that if we were to unite as a community in solidarity with what is right and what accords with human values in governance, this culture of impunity will be terminated alongside the coming of a new age concerning our current so-called democracy.
Nevertheless, we are never deprived of the human agency to hope. With hope comes leaders who make us see the light at the end of the tunnel. With hope, we are empowered to make a choice. Hence, the Editorial Board is choosing to endorse VP Leni Robredo as the next President of the Republic of the Philippines and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan as the next Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines.
In sharp contrast to the incumbent administration, these two candidates have proven themselves as competent, honest, and compassionate leaders through their respective track records, extensive experiences in the socio-political arena, and human-centered platforms.
Looking back on the accomplishments of Robredo, there is a shared sense of community-driven spirit in all of her projects and programs that are geared toward bridging social gaps, addressing economic inequalities, and uplifting marginalized communities. These endeavors are bolstered by her career and experience as a lawyer, relentlessly aiming toward helping to better the lives of Filipinos in need such as through her flagship Angat Buhay program that helped over 622,000 families; Robredo herself noted that this is her best legacy and it’s clear why—through this program, she led the OVP’s COVID-19 pandemic response which tested 9,757 people through the Swab Cab project and funded 35,656 extraction and detection kits to help identify people who tested positive with COVID-19; moreover, the OVP also launched a Community Mart which helped tricycle drivers and vendors in Pasig and Quezon City in addition to the rollout of Vaccine Express, Community Learning Hubs, and the Bayanihan E-Konsulta.
The OVP has also mobilized P82.14 million for projects addressing mental health and malnutrition such as the mental health facility built in San Remigio, Cebu, and the feeding program that helped children in Lambunao, Iloilo. Additionally, the OVP has continuously been active and present in responding to natural disasters by rolling out immediate relief efforts such as during the aftermath of Typhoon Odette; she turned her campaign volunteer center in Quezon City into a relief operations center alongside the initiative of organizing an emergency fund donation campaign to help affected families.
Robredo’s strong community involvement is also demonstrated in her initiatives concerning women empowerment such as the Angat Buhay Workshop for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs as she believes that the primary step to genuinely empowering women begins with economic empowerment, thereby making livelihood opportunities, work, and capital accessible to women. Furthermore, extending towards the other marginalized sectors, she has turned over P15.39 million worth of assistance directed towards the livelihood of fisherfolk, farmers, seamstresses, small businessmen, and riders.
She also led the turnover of transition shelters to the Marawi City government after the Marawi siege, as well as the BAHAYanihan initiative to build houses for families affected by typhoons which she began launching in Guinobatan, Albay.
Before entering politics, Robredo worked with the Public Attorney’s Office, providing legal services to indigent litigants to ensure that they get free access to the courts. As an advocate lawyer, she focused on cases involving marginalized communities; she provided pro-bono services when she was with the Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (Saligan) which is a national alternative lawyers’ group helping farmers. In the Bicol chapter, she worked as a branch coordinator and lawyer for 13 years, representing marginalized people in court and providing legal education to clients. Additionally, she also founded the Lakas ng Kababaihan in Naga in 1992 and was President of the Naga City Council for Women from 2008 to 2010.
Along the same vein, Robredo’s extensive public service and advocacies on socio-economic issues are shared by her running mate, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, who has been in the forefront concerning matters of agriculture, food security, and social justice alongside his work in championing the cause of the judiciary. He is recognized as one of the most productive senators in our country; he has filed the most number of committee reports during the 12th congress and has become the youngest person to serve as the Senate majority leader since 1937.
His life before entering the political arena also attests to his stalwart character, marking the early beginnings of his endeavors in fighting for justice and equity. Pangilinan was a student-activist during his college years; he served as the president of the UP Student Council and he was the first UP Board of Regent student-member with voting power. During the budding years of his career as a lawyer, he collaborated with the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) and handled pro-bono cases.
Moreover, moving toward his major accomplishments in the public office, three of his bills supporting the sectors of agriculture and fisheries were passed in the 18th congress, which includes the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act aimed to benefit coconut farmers and their families through the creation and funding of a 50-year, P75 billion trust fund.
Quite notably, Pangilinan was the sole negative vote on the Bayanihan II, which was passed as Republic Act No. 11494 involving the allocation of a fund to address and mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic through health programs. His reasons centered on the alleged misuse of funds under the Bayanihan I and the lack of competent response in effectively curbing the spread of COVID-19.
Furthermore, his staunch refusal of inept leadership and conviction in protecting the welfare of citizens is exemplified when he voted against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 which is a law that imperils democracy and poses a threat to the protection of human rights as it encompasses an overly broad definition of terrorism, thereby rendering even the most benign criticism and dissent on the government as acts of terrorism.
By all means, it is a law that’s flawed and susceptible to political abuse given its expansive description to what constitutes as terrorism, furthering the acts of red-tagging and inhibiting the fundamental freedom of expression in fear of being punished and detained; alongside Pangilinan in the opposition on this measure is Sen. Risa Hontiveros, which resulted in the 19-2 senatorial voting.
The candidacy of the Leni-Kiko tandem rekindled the nation’s hope for a brighter tomorrow and this shared sense of hope persists among all of us—runs within us—as the lifeblood of our community is nourished when no citizen is left behind as there is no such thing as wanting good governance and national development if we elect leaders that cannot even uphold the basic values of humanity and citizen welfare.
As we partake in the restoration of democracy, harmony, and human-centered politics in our country, we are being called to fight the current culture of impunity and social injustice. It is not easy, but it is necessary. As Howard Zinn said, “dissent is the highest form of patriotism.” There is no democracy without dissent, just as how solidarity with our country cannot take place if we do not uphold the truth and defend our rights and basic liberties as humanity. In this pursuit of a new tomorrow, there are no better leaders than Leni Robredo and Kiko Pangilinan.
May the future of our country be one with the common good.
