Leni senatorial bets seek OVP exemption from poll spending ban

MANILA – Senatorial candidates of the tandem of presidential bet Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis Pangilinan appealed anew to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday to allow Robredo’s office to continue its aid missions, citing humanitarian grounds.

The senatorial candidates said addressing the needs of poor Filipinos with urgent humanitarian concerns due to the pandemic and recent calamities should not be hindered by the start of the official campaign period.

Senatorial bet Chel Diokno said the Comelec should act decisively on Robredo’s appeal.

“The OVP’s programs are a big help to many Filipinos that’s why they should not be dragged with the campaign of VP Leni. Another thing, these programs fill the gaps of the government during this pandemic especially in terms of aid and testing,” said Diokno, a law professor and human rights fighter.

Meanwhile, former Ifugao congressman Teddy Baguilat said Robredo’s work as Vice President should not be affected by the polls.

Labor leader and senatorial candidate Sonny Matula, of the Federation of Free Workers, said the Comelec should act promptly on Robredo’s appeal.

“The Comelec exemption is important since workers direly need the quality public service that only the OVP with its vast network and experience can provide. We hope the commissioners realize that VP Leni has been consistently providing aid to the needy even before the start of the campaign period,” Matula added.

Meanwhile, lawyer Alex Lacson said the call for Robredo to continue her programs is “beyond politics”.

“I join Leni’s request and call on Comelec to immediately grant her petition to continue with her pandemic and disaster response initiatives during the campaign period for humanitarian reasons,” he added.

Last February 7, Robredo suspended the OVP’s initiatives to provide aid to people who lost jobs and livelihood because of the pandemic while awaiting the Comelec decision on her plea.

She had asked for an exemption to continue her Covid-19 response programs — Bayanihan E-Konsulta, Vaccine Express, Swab Cab, and medical assistance even during the campaign period.

Comelec Resolution No. 10747 sets the rules and regulations on the prohibition on disbursement of public funds in connection with the May 9 polls.

The Leni-Kiko tandem endorsed seven candidates and five guest candidates, namely reelectionist senators Richard Gordon, Migz Zubiri, and Joel Villanueva, Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero, and former Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Currently, the group is campaigning in the Bicol region which is known as Robredo’s bailiwick.

Endorsement

Meanwhile, former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. has endorsed the tandem of Robredo and Pangilinan.

“Only this tandem of Leni-Kiko has a vision for our country, or has presented to the people doable and achievable programs of government within their term of six years that would lift up our country and our people from years of stagnation and decay because of corruption and greed, incompetence, poor governance and failure of accountability,” Davide said in an open letter on Wednesday.

He said the tandem can fulfill the Filipino people’s hopes, dreams, and aspirations for a great country where the people would enjoy the “blessings of truth, justice, love, equality, and peace under a truly free and democratic government where the rule of law will always prevail.”

Davide, now 86, has spent 41 years in public service in various elective or appointive positions, said it would be in the best interest of the Filipinos to elect Robredo and Pangilinan as the next president and vice president, respectively.

A group of Catholic nuns – Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul Province of St. Louise de Marillac-Asia Philippine Mission — also expressed their support for Robredo’s candidacy.

They said the poor is at the heart of Robredo’s platforms which include good governance, integral human development, care for our common home, defense of the sanctity of life and human rights, economic recovery, and political justice.

The group also expressed their support to the other candidates of Robredo’s team.