Bakit Ikaw: The Presidential Job Interview with VP Leni Robredo

Presidential aspirant and Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday, Feb. 2, gave her take on how to solve some of the issues the country is facing today.

In her interview with DZRH's Bakit Ikaw: The Presidential Job Interview, Robredo gave her take on the passage of the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill, the controversial Divorce Law, the whole-of-government approach to eradicate insurgency, and the regulating lifestyle checks on all government officials.

Here are some of the highlights of Robredo's Bakit Ikaw: The Presidential Job Interview:

Passage of the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill
If elected president, Robredo said that she will push for the passing of the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill, adding that this will help equalize opportunities for all Filipinos.

"Pinakamahalaga talagang magkaroon ng Anti-Dynasty Bill para nae-equalize 'yung opportunities. Hindi siya nasasarili ng isang pamilya lang," she said, "Kasi kapag nakaupo ka na, lahat ng advantages meron sa'yo, 'yung access mo sa maraming proyekto ng gobyerno, 'yung access mo sa mileage na nakikila na pag pamilya mo yung papasok ay parang nasaraduhan natin 'yung opportunities para sa iba."

(It is really important to have an Anti-Dynasty Bill to equalize opportunities and so it is not concentrated into one family. This is because when you are already seated, you have all the advantages. You have access to many government projects, and you also have access to the mileage that your family becomes recognizable if they enter the government. It shuts down opportunities for others.)

Vice President Robredo is also known to co-author the Anti-Dynasty Bill back in the 16th Congress.

Robredo 100% backs whole-of-govt approach on Anti-Insurgency Program
In a bid to eradicate insurgency in the country, presidential aspirant Robredo said that she '100 percent' supports the whole-of-government approach. Noting further that the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) is only one aspect of the government's larger anti-insurgency program.

Robredo also agreed with the concept of the program that states that the military alone cannot solve insurgency in the country and that there is a need to incorporate different government agencies to monitor the economic and social development of affected areas.

"'Yung pinakakonsepto ng whole-of-government approach as far as 'yung anti-insurgency measure is concerned, agree ako run," she said, "Kasi kailangan mong punteryahin kung ano 'yung pinagmumulan ng discontent, so ako 100% ako doon."

Robredo also clarified her previous statement against the NTF-ELCAC saying that she only criticized the agency for its supposed "irresponsible red-tagging" adding that the move could drive away other government agencies and create conflict.

Open to talks on divorce
"Bukas ako sa usapin patungkol sa Divorce." (I am open to discussions about Divorce.)

Presidential aspirant Robredo has made it clear time and time again that despite her current stance on a Divorce Law she remains open to more talks.

Robredo, who is not in favor of a possible Divorce Law, said that there is already an existing declaration of nullity of marriage which she believes almost gives an outcome similar to Divorce.

Explaining further, the vice president said that she hopes for the amendment of the declaration of the nullity of marriage to be pushed so an alternative for divorce can be offered while the bill on the latter is still under debate.

"Para habang pinag-uusapan ang divorce at least yung remedy na 'yun available na kahit mahirap ka," she stated.

(So while we're talking about divorce, at least we have that remedy available even if you are poor.)
The Philippines together with the Vatican are the only two countries in the world where divorce remains illegal.

Publicize SALN, regular lifestyle checks for govt' officials
Other than publicizing government official's statement of assets, liabilities, and net (SALN), Vice President Robredo said that she also favors the regular practice of lifestyle checking for government officials.

"Hindi sapat na SALN lang ang i-require sa'min, dapat mayroon ding regular lifestyle check. Paano mo ba maa-afford ang pinagkakagastusan mo na ganito lamang ang sweldo mo," she said.

(It's not enough that we are required to submit our SALN, there also should be a regular lifestyle check like how were you able to afford your expenses with only this much of salary.)

Robredo stressed that in order to gain public trust the government must practice transparency.

Working abroad should be by choice, not necessity
Vice President Leni Robredo emphasized that Filipinos should have the privilege to work abroad by choice and not out of necessity. She added that the government should have a long-term goal of providing citizens equal opportunities that are offered overseas.

"Dapat 'yung long-term na goal natin, 'yung pag-aabroad ay by choice, hindi by necessity. So [ibig] sabihin kung ayaw nilang mag-abroad, dapat meron sa kanilang opportunities dito," she said

(Our long-term goal should be that going abroad is by choice, not by necessity. This means that if they do not want to go abroad, they should have opportunities here.)

Making an example of retirees, Robredo said that a lot of them desire to go home but cannot do so given that the government cannot provide them with proper health care.

"So kailangan, ayusin natin 'yung mga benefits. Una, ayusin ang ekonomiya para merong opportunities sa trabaho," she said.

(So what we need to do is fix the benefits. First, fix the economy so they have job opportunities.)

"Pangalawa, 'yung benefits na nakukuha nila doon, kailangan nao-offer natin sa kanila dito para hindi dahilan 'yung dahil wala dito 'yung benefits kaya nag-lalagi sila dun sa host country nila," she said.

(Second, the benefits that they have there, we need to offer them here so they would not have the reason of staying there because they will not receive the same benefits here.)

During her interview, Robredo also bared her plans for a "transparent and accountable" government noting that she only plans to appoint corrupt-free officials. She added that she also plans to railroad the passing of the Full Disclosure Bill, one of the first bills that she filed, which aims to make public all government procurements and transactions even without the need of request.

The Bakit Ikaw: The Presidential Job Interview is aired on all DZRH digital, Radyo Natin website, and other traditional media platforms. (DZRH)