Robredo: Filipinos must be allowed to engage gov’t without fear

Filipinos should be allowed to speak freely and engage their government without fear, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Tuesday.

Robredo, in her remarks before the Rotary Club of Makati, called on Filipinos to take “a more active role” in nation-building by engaging the government and its leaders.

“We need to create a community where each one is given the opportunity to lead and grow, because in the end, the fate of our country lies not in the hands of a strong leader, but in the collective courage and action of our people,” Robredo said.

“But for all these to flourish, we all must create an environment where ordinary Filipinos can speak freely, engage the government without fear, and expect results from such engagement. This is not the government’s job alone; the responsibility lies in all of us,” she added.

Likewise, Robredo said that Filipinos must work “to heal the hate and apathy around us today” to address poverty.

“As your duly-elected Vice President, I am here to lead the fight against poverty. But I cannot do it alone. I certainly need a lot of your help, so that we can illuminate every corner of this country with courage, resilience, and generosity,” she said.

“Let us prove that we can be more than our differences. That we are not solely defined by our politics and personal preferences. That, as one people, we can turn our dreams for our country into tangible reality,” she added. /je

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