MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo’s lawyers will take legal action over the latest hate attack and false information being spread against her eldest daughter Aika, the presidential aspirant said yesterday.
“I used to be the focus of everything. But now that my daughters are also helping me, they are also becoming victims (of fake news). We expected that, but we also want to show that this is not the kind of leadership and campaign that we want,” Robredo said in Filipino during an interview in La Union.
“Our lawyers will take legal action. But for me and my daughters, we refuse to be deterred by these,” she added.
The Vice President recalled that she experienced the same during the 2016 vice presidential race and throughout her term as the second highest official in the land.
“I am not surprised because that is how my rival works ever since he lost in 2016,” she said, referring to presidential aspirant and former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“They did not stop over the last six years. But if there is one lesson that we got from that, there is nothing that would replace the truth… At the end of the day, the people will choose what is good and what is true,” Robredo added.
She warned the public against those who resort to black propaganda during the campaign, noting that this is the kind of governance that they will do if elected into public office.
“What they should highlight are the things that are good and what they can do (for the country),” the Vice President said.
“Maybe, they resort to fake news because they cannot say anything good about themselves,” she added.
DOJ begins probe
The Department of Justice-Office of Cybercrime (DOJ-OCC) yesterday said its agents have begun investigating the origin of the malicious and fake sex video allegedly of Robredo’s daughter.
DOJ-OCC officer-in-charge Charito Zamora said they might seek the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in conducting an investigation.
“Our investigation agents are on it. If it needs further investigation, we will indorse the same to the NBI Cybercrime Division,” Zamora added.
The DOJ-OCC will conduct the investigation even if it has not officially received a report or a complaint.
Senators bewailed the spread of fake news against Robredo’s eldest daughter peddled by groups obviously aiming to derail her campaign, with Sen. Risa Hontiveros urging all candidates to condemn this dirty political tactic of circulating a fake porn video.
“The news circulating about Aika Robredo’s fake porn video is downright misogynistic,” Hontiveros said.
“The Safe Spaces Act, which I authored, clearly prohibits and penalizes any misogynistic behavior even online. Those who spread this fake video can be prosecuted,” she added.
For the re-electionist senator, “it is never acceptable to use a woman’s body in an attempt to defame one’s character. It is disgusting that the campaign period is leading to the vulgarity of femininity and personality.”
“I call on the Filipino public – whichever candidate you support – to condemn this dirty political tactic. I call on all candidates from all slates to do the same. This is not the spirit of being Filipino,” she said.
“We are better than this…To Aika, mabuhay ka for holding up beautifully! We are with you,” she added.
Re-electionist Sen. Leila de Lima bewailed the spread of fake news against Aika as the former condemned the people behind the reported circulation of the latter’s fake sex video, calling them “toxic and utterly vile.”
“As a woman, as a mother and as a victim of weaponized misogyny driven by dirty politics, I join all decent Filipinos in condemning the latest attempt to damage VP Leni’s campaign through the spread of vile fake news about members of her family,” De Lima said. – Evelyn Macairan, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Eva Visperas
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