Led by 5 ex-NEDA chiefs
Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday expressed her gratitude to economists, retired military officials, diplomats, and former government officials who endorsed her candidacy, saying it gives her confidence that they who have served the country in earnest believe in her capacity to be the next President.
“They are all very capable and well-respected individuals who have devoted a good part of their lives working for the government,” said Robredo’s spokesperson, Barry Gutierrez.
“That they believe VP Leni should be the country’s next President because of her leadership and her qualifications is a boost for the campaign, and we hope this can inspire and encourage others to support her presidential bid.”
Over 100 economists and five former National Economic and Development Authority chiefs have backed the presidential bid of Robredo in the May 9 elections.
“At this time when our country is struggling to recover from its deepest economic crisis since the 1980s, we believe that the government’s role has never been more indispensable,” the Economists for Leni said in a statement.
“We, the undersigned economists, express our full support for the presidential bid of Ma. Leonor ‘Leni’ Gerona Robredo,” they added.
Those who signed included ex-NEDA chiefs Ernesto Pernia under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte; Solita “Winnie” Monsod, the Socioeconomic Planning secretary under the late former President Corazon Aquino; Cielito Habito (Ramos administration); Dante Canlas (Arroyo administration); and Emmanuel Esguerra (Benigno Aquino III administration).
Other signatories were former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas deputy governor Diwa Guinigundo and economist-lawmaker Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo.
Robredo’s supporters believe she is a competent leader “that could bring back the trust and confidence of the people in the government, thus enabling the government to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The 137 economists said Robredo “is our best hope to turn the tide and bring back the people’s trust in government in order to restore and sustain vigor to people’s lives and livelihoods at the soonest possible time.”
“Robredo has shown a genuine concern for the plight of the poor and marginalized through her decades of work as a human rights lawyer for grassroots organizations even before entering politics,” they said.
“This will be crucial not just in bringing back people’s trust in government, but also in making sure that economic recovery improves the lives of Filipinos from all walks of life,” the group added, noting her proven track records of hands-on leadership and good governance through the Office of the Vice President’s various programs and projects.
“Her COVID recovery plan released in November also provides a coherent and comprehensive strategy to address the lack of jobs, record hunger particularly in urban areas, and the need to beef up provision of economic aid and education assistance especially among the poor,” they said.
“This should be the centerpiece of any program for the complete resumption of economic activity: there will be no economic recovery to speak of unless the government focuses its efforts on the health crisis and addresses it systematically,” they said.
“Thus far the burden of adjustment has always been lopsided against the poor and marginalized in the country. Our nation cannot move forward on this basis.”