Vice President and presidential aspirant Leni Robredo said she’s not planning to engage in a word war with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, who challenged her to drop her presidential run.
“Ako, again uulitin ko, hindi ko siya papatulan,” Robredo told reporters in Cebu.
“Dahil hindi naman ito simpleng laban lang naming dalawa. Laban ito ng bayan natin. May mas malaking laban na kailangan nating panalunin. Gaya ng sinabi ko kanina, extraordinary ang eleksyon na ito,” she added.
On Easter Sunday, Moreno called on Robredo to quit from the race via a press conference participated by fellow presidential candidates Senator Panfilo Lacson and former Defense secretary Norberto Gonzales.
The three presidential contenders who are lagging in pre-election surveys conducted a press conference to announce they are not withdrawing from the race.
Robredo explained that she is fighting for what kind of governance would prevail under a new administration.
“Hindi lang ito contest ng mga kandidato, pero ito ‘yung mag de-determine kung anong klaseng pamamahala at pulitika ‘yung mananaig sa bayan natin in the next six years, na ‘yun ‘yung pinapakipaglaban natin ngayon,” she said.
Meanwhile, Moreno doubled down on his attacks on Robredo calling the vice president “matapobre” and “a bully”.
“Hindi naman ako nakikipag-away, eh. I’m just stating the facts na bully sila. Sila matapobre. Maliit ang tingin nila sa amin, mataas ang pagtingin nila sa sarili nila kaya sila nanghihingi ng withdrawal ng kanilang kalaban,” he said.
“Wala namang away doon. We are just stating facts na ang mga pink bully at si Leni matapobre. ‘Yun lang ‘yun. That’s my opinion and that’s it,” he added.
The Manila mayor added that the vice president is the “godmother” of bullies. He said that there were incidents where Robredo’s business supporters allegedly threatened to fire employees who were not voting for her.
“Oh, ngayon nakahanap na sila ng katapat. Ayaw namin sa dilaw. Ayaw ng taumbayan sa dilaw. Kahit na mag-pink pa sila, alam ng tao ang mga dilaw at pink puro matapobre. Ngayon nakahanap na sila ng katapat. Nilalabanan ko sila. Pero hindi ko sila kaaway,” he said. — Ronald Espartinez