Who is she?
Rep. Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo currently serves as the representative to the Philippine House of Representatives from the Camarines Sur Third District in the northern Philippines, a position she has held for three years. Earlier, she was the coordinator of the Naga city chapter of a non-governmental organization providing legal help to farmers, workers, urban poor, women, and local communities. She also served in the public attorney’s office. Robredo was nominated by the Liberal Party in October 2015 as its candidate for vice president in the 2016 elections. The position was first offered to Senator Grace Poe, who declined in favor of running as an independent presidential candidate.
Leni Robredo delivering a speech in front of barangay officials at an LP rally in Quezon City on February 17, 2016. Source: Wikimedia user supergabbyshoe, used under a creative commons license.
Why is she in the news?
Based on unofficial tallies, Robredo won the May 9 Philippine vice presidential election by a scant 220,000 votes. Robredo went from ranking last among the vice presidential candidates in pre-election surveys up to a statistical tie for first place just before the election, and swept to victory in dramatic fashion on election night. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos and her chief opponent, has challenged perceived “irregularities” in the vote, but most analysts have awarded Robredo the victory.
What can we expect from her?
In the Philippines, vice presidents are elected separately from presidents. Robredo’s Liberal Party running mate, presidential candidate Mar Roxas, was soundly defeated by the controversial hardline presumptive president-elect, Rodrigo Duterte, which puts Robredo in the not-uncommon position of opposition vice president. Although the role of vice-president is ill-defined in the constitution, Duterte has promised a position for her in his cabinet, ensuring a voice for the establishment Liberal Party in the anti-establishment Duterte administration.
As a long-time human rights advocate, Robredo is certain to push the “daang matuwid” (straight path) pledge that has characterized the outgoing Benigno Aquino administration. She is new to the political scene, but has used her time in congress to focus on bills that promoted government transparency and people empowerment. As vice president, she will likely champion good governance, alleviating poverty, spreading wealth to the provinces outside Manila, and pushing for citizen empowerment and gender equality—all policies that the Duterte campaign supported. Robredo has indicated she is wary about the more extreme policies of Duterte’s past, especially the alleged extrajudicial use of vigilante “death squads” in Davao, but has pledged full support for his presidency.
