Vice President Leni Robredo (Photo by Cathy Miranda / INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — “My being a woman—and my being a widow—has paved the way for a lot of malicious… malicious and undeserved criticisms on my person, and that does not… it’s not the same for men.”
Vice President Leni Robredo said this at a panel discussion conducted last Oct. 9 by the Australia-Philippines Business Council (APBH) in Sydney. Part of that event was aired on Sunday, Nov. 3, over her weekly AM radio program, “BISErbisyong Leni.”
“It is still a reality that women in politics are still easy targets — especially now that there’s social media, especially now that there is fake news,” Robredo said.
“When you’re seen outside — even if you are with girls — if you’re seen in social circles, you’re seen as being easy. Not with men. Men are more… They give more allowance for male politicians,” she added.
Robredo also touched on the issue of Sen. Leila De Lima who has been detained for over two years over her alleged involvement in illegal drug activities.
“We have a woman senator who has been… who is in jail now, who has been accused of many unfounded, you know — who has been the recipient of many unfounded accusations,” Robredo said.
“But the male counterparts, even if there are basis for the same accusations, are not, you know, crucified in the same manner that she has been. So it’s still not the same. Although there are many women leaders in the Philippines already, the treatment is still not the same,” she added.
The Vice President should that the government should give local government units incentives for coming up with laws that seek gender equality and empowerment of women.
/atm