MANILA-based citizens jumpstarted a 3-million signature campaign to call for Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo to run for the May 2022 presidential elections.
Members of the Metro Manila Movement for Leni Robredo explained that their “3 Million for Life and Rights (3MLR) is a multi-phased campaign to promote Good Governance in support of life and the basic rights of our people.”
Robredo, however, shows reluctance in heeding such calls, citing her lack of campaign funds. In contrast, President Rodrigo Duterte bragged that sacks of money will be handed out to administration candidates.
Addressing her concerns, Robredo’s followers say that the signature campaign serves as “a high impact but low-cost campaign strategy that can only benefit the candidacy of VP Leni.”
Others in social media broach the idea of launching “A Dollar for Leni/A Peso for Leni” campaign to bankroll her candidacy.
The “Fight Leni Fight” campaign underscores the smoldering disenchantment against the government.
The campaigners say that Robredo’s candidacy will serve as a counterforce to “the prevailing regime and whoever candidate it endorses as they are responsible for the thousands of death and countless lives that have been destroyed.”
The Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the International Criminal Court in The Hague estimates that Duterte’s “war on drugs” claimed the lives of 12,000 to 30,000 civilians.
On or before 21 September 2021, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I is expected to come up with its decision on whether to authorize ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan to conduct a preliminary investigation into thousands of cases of crimes against humanity of murder, torture, and other inhumane acts allegedly orchestrated by Duterte pursuant to his state policy.
The campaign, Robredo’s supporters believe, “will highlight the scenario of the Battle of Good versus Evil, focusing on the policies and stands of VP Leni in support of the promotion of life and rights against that of the policy of death and oppression by the present administration.”
Robredo, they stress, “embodies a governance centered on the protection and promotion of Filipino Lives and basic rights, and will make these principles a centerpiece of her administration upon victory in 2022.”
Robredo’s followers decry the “current administration’s failure in governance, especially during this time of crisis.”
The 3-million signature campaign, they believe, “can be the culmination of all calls for a regime change, an opposition against the policy of death and oppression of the administration rooted in incompetence, ignorance, violence and treachery.”
Read the campaign here:
About Perfecto Caparas. Writes a column for Pinoy Publiko. He served as a journalist of Ang Pahayagang Malaya, The Manila Times, The Philippine Post, Pinoy Gazette, UCANews and ISYU Newsmagazine. He is a licensed attorney and lifetime member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
