‘Robredo is our best hope’ Filipino economists say

By Mavic Conde and Paulo Papa

Over 160 Filipino economists backed Vice President Leni Robredo’s presidential bid.

“We believe that VP Leni Robredo is our best hope to turn the tide and bring back the people’s trust in government,” the endorsement letter read, which was signed by at least 162 economists.

Signatories include former chiefs of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Ernesto Pernia, Winne Monsod, Emmanuel Esguerra, Dante Canlas, and Cielito Habito.

They said “...the deep roots of these problems in the political economy of our society” will not be solved by quick fixes, adding: economic recovery deserves to be a priority in the next administration’s agenda.

The signatories emphasized in the letter that these economic policies should not repeat the inequalities produced pre-pandemic by eradicating their root causes.

Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo is also one of the signatories. “I join my fellow economists in supporting the presidential bid of VP Leni,” she said in a tweet.

Meanwhile, Robredo who was in the city recently said that fake news and disinformation may affect the result of May 2022 national and local polls.

Robredo told local newsmen that baseless and deteriorating information about her online is a threat to her candidacy.

She said social media is a powerful tool for mass communication, thus it is being used to spread baseless information through numerous fake accounts.

“Alam natin na nasa-saturate nito yung distribution channels. Pinakamahirap kasi sa social media is hindi siya gaya ninyo (mediamen). Kayo yung may accountabilities na hindi kayo basta-basta lumalabas ng anything nang hindi naba-validate. Sa social media pwedeng ilabas kahit walang accountability kasi pwede maglabas gamit ang fake accounts. Iyan yung mahirap ngayon” she said.

“Nire-recognize natin yung power ng social media. Nagamit talaga siya sa pang aabuso” she added.