Leni grateful for fund drive amid legal fee woes vs Bongbong case

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo thanked her supporters who launched a donation drive after she expressed worries over legal fees she would face while answering former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s electoral protest.

“There are supporters of the Vice President that have expressed their interest to help out in the election protest… The Vice President is truly grateful for this expression of concern,” Robredo’s spokesperson Georgina Hernandez said in a statement on Thursday.

“Nonetheless, we would not want to impose on the people. We continue to have faith that in the end, the good will prevail,” she added.

Although grateful for the influx of donation initiatives and admitted that the case would require payment of the costs of the electoral protest, Robredo's camp said they would not accept these funds since these are not in accordance with the law.

On Wednesday, Robredo said she is more worried about the cost of legal fees rather than the merits thrown against her by Marcos in his case. She said the legal fees she would pay to her election lawyer Romulo Macalintal might change since he would now be handling a “full-blown” case, unlike his previous representation during the canvassing period.

READ: Leni worried over legal fees in facing 'baseless' Bongbong case

Robredo’s supporters including former presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda launched a fund drive dubbed “Piso para kay Leni” to help her with the case. Lacierda cited that there were over 14 million voters who supported Leni and so he urged each of those to donate a minimum of P1 to ensure her chance to defend herself.

Macalintal to help Leni ‘with or without fee’

Meanwhile, Macalintal responded to Robredo’s statement saying he is willing to help the vice president in her case for free.

“Sabi ko naman kay VP, no problem sa attorney’s fees.  With or without fees, nakahanda kaming ipagtanggol ang mga botong ipinagkatiwala sa kanya ng taong bayan. Hindi kami nag-uusap sa attorney’s fees kasi pareho naman kaming abugado,” Macalintal said.

“Kaya bilang abugado, nakahanda akong maglingkod sa kapwa ko abugado na hindi pinag-uusapan ang attorney’s fees. Yes na yes kami sa pagtulong kay VP Leni,” he added.