Isko Moreno Domagoso and Sen. Panfilo Lacson, both presidential contenders, said Vice President Leni Robredo “cannot be trusted” because she allegedly “fooled” several aspirants into believing she intended to unite the opposition and had no interest in running for president.
“I was fooled also in the face by the Vice President. She said to my face, 1,000 times that she will not run for president,” Domagoso. He attended a press conference at the Manila Peninsula Hotel. Lacson and another presidential candidate, former Sec. Norberto Gonzales were also there.
“We were made to believe to unite, but we were fooled, literally in our face. That kind of person cannot be trusted,” Mayor Isko said.
“Kung ganun pa lang, may masama nang intention from the very beginning, hindi agad puwede pagkatiwalaan,” he added.
Before filing candidacies in October 2021, Lacson says he received the same treatment from Robredo.
“Yung first meeting, ang concept, maganda, unification. Kaya nag-bite ako eh,” Lacson said.
Lacson said he tried to persuade Robredo to run for vice president with Senate President Vicente Sotto III, but the suggestion was rejected.
Robredo’s camp wanted to consider the initial suggestion when the senator chose to run for president alongside Sotto.
“Kung tinanggap niya ‘yung first offer ko, baka wala ako ngayon. But then, she rejected it,” Lacson said.
“You see kung anong klase ng tao yung nakikipag-usap ng ganiyan?” he said.
Isko, Lacson say Leni Robredo ‘cannot be trusted’
Robredo’s camp has yet to publish a statement in response to the claims.
Lacson, whose Partido Reporma endorsed Robredo last month, also questioned her character, alleging that members of her campaign staff were willing to replace her running mate to garner more votes in particular provinces.
Robredo’s aides allegedly told many local officials that they could remove Sen. Kiko Pangilinan if they could guarantee a certain number of votes for the Liberal Party chairman. He is running as an independent candidate.
“‘Yung pumunta siya sa Davao del Norte alone, leaving her vice presidential candidate… that to me speaks a lot about her character,” Senator Lacson said.
“Ka-tandem niya, ilalaglag ninyo para manalo lang ‘yung principal,” he said.
Despite some factions aligning her with other vice presidential candidates, Robredo has stated that she will support Pangilinan.
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