Leni Robredo

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Leni Robredo
Leni Robredo (2).jpg
Robredo in 2013
15th Vice President of the Philippines
Elect
Taking office
June 30, 2016
President Rodrigo Duterte (Elect)
Succeeding Jejomar Binay
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Camarines Sur's Third District[1]
In office
June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2016
Preceded by Luis Villafuerte, Sr.
Succeeded by Gabriel Bordado
Personal details
Born Maria Leonor Santo Tomas Gerona
(1964-04-23) April 23, 1964 (age 59)
Naga, Camarines Sur, Philippines
Nationality Filipino
Political party Liberal Party
Spouse(s) Jesse Robredo (m. 1987; wid. 2012)
Children Jessica M. Robredo
Jillian T. Robredo
Janine P. Robredo
Alma mater University of the Philippines Diliman (BA)
San Beda College (M.B.A.)
University of Nueva Caceres (LLB)
Occupation Lawyer
Profession Politician
Religion Roman Catholicism
Website Official website

Leni Robredo (born Maria Leonor Santo Tomas Gerona; April 23, 1964)[2] is a Filipino lawyer, social activist, and politician who is the current Vice President-elect of the Philippines, having topped the official Congressional count of the 2016 election.1[3] Robredo ran under the Liberal Party, and won the election with 14,418,817 votes or 35.11% of the votes, narrowly defeating Senator Bongbong Marcos by 263,473 votes.[4]

Robredo first came to public attention in 2012 after the death of her husband, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, in a plane crash off the coast of Masbate Island. Prior to the accident, her involvement in public life was as a lawyer and social activist. After this, she ran in the 2013 general election and won as the representative of Camarines Sur's Third District to the Philippine House of Representatives, a position she will hold until the change of administrations in June 2016.

Early life and education

Maria Leonor Santo Tomas Gerona was born on April 23, 1964 in Naga, Camarines Sur, Philippines,[5] the first of three children born to retired Naga City Regional Trial Court Judge Antonio Gerona and Salvacion Sto. Tomas.[6]

Gerona was educated in Universidad de Sta. Isabel in Naga City, graduating from Elementary in 1978, and from High School in 1982. She then graduated with a degree in Economics from the School of Economics of the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1986. She then went to take her Master of Business Administration at San Beda College prior to studying Law at University of Nueva Caceres, graduating in 1992.[2]

In 2015, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines conferred Robredo an honorary Doctor of Public Administration.[citation needed]

Early career

Inspired by the People Power Revolution after graduating from UP Diliman,[7] Gerona chose to temporarily forego law studies and instead decided to work for the Bicol River Basin Development Program (BRBDP),[8] a government agency tasked to undertake integrated area development planning in the three provinces of the Bicol region.[9] It was here that she met then-Program Director Jesse Robredo, who would eventually become her husband.[9]

After passing the bar exam in 1996,[2] Robredo served in the Public Attorney's Office,[7] a role in which she often took up the defense for cases pursued by her husband, who by then had become Mayor of Naga.[8]

In 2007,[10] Robredo became the coordinator of Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligan (SALIGAN), a Naga-based alternative legal support group.[8] SALIGAN's work[8] aimed to encourage young legal professionals to take on leadership roles,[11] and involved visiting distant rural communities to provide legal services to residents who would otherwise have little or no access to such services,[12] as well as conducting legal advocacy by proposing amendments and new laws based on the needs of these marginalized communities. Later, the group's focus shifted to include helping rural women to acquire capital in order to become competitive markets.[12]

In addition, she founded the Lakas ng Kababaihan ng Naga Federation, an organization that provides training and livelihood opportunities for women, in 1989.[13]

Political career

In 2012, Robredo was named the chairperson of the Liberal Party in Camarines Sur,[14][15][16][17][18]

House of Representatives

She ran in Camarines Sur's 3rd congressional district during the Philippine general elections of 2013. On May 16, 2013 she was proclaimed winner, beating Nelly Favis-Villafuerte (of Nationalist People's Coalition/United Nationalist Alliance), wife of former Congressman Luis Villafuerte[19] and member of the politically powerful Villauerte dynasty[20]

Legislative thrust and positions on issues

File:Leni Robredo in a Quezon City LP campaign rally.jpg
Robredo delivering a speech during a LP campaign rally in Quezon City, February 17, 2016
File:Leni Robredo at Sto. Tomas Clan Reunion.jpg
Robredo celebrating her 49th birthday in Canaman, Camarines Sur, April 23, 2013

During her term in congress, Robredo was the vice chairman of the House committees on good governance, public accountibility, and revision of laws, and member of 11 other house panels.[21] She was known for being a strong advocate of the Freedom of Information Act,[22] was a strong supporter of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.[23][24]

Participatory governance and transparency were major thrusts of Robredo's legislative agenda. The first law Robredo authored in congress was the Full Disclosure Policy Bill (HB 19), which would have mandated all government agencies and their sub-units and projects to disclose their budget and financial transactions in a conspicuous manner "without any requests from the public."[25] Concerned that the marginalized sector should not be denied access to government frontline services and public meetings based on their attire,[26] she sponsored the Open Door Policy Act (House Bill No. 6286),[27] which prohibits government offices and agencies from implementing strict dress codes.[28]

Robredo also authored the People Empowerment Bill (HB 4911[29]), which sought to allow more participation from Filipinos in decision and policy-making,[30] and the Participatory Budget Process Bill (HB 3905) which sought to increase participation in budget-related decisions in government projects by locals.[29][31][32] She also wrote the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Bill (HB 3432) to prohibit discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, race, religion or belief, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expressions, language, disability, HIV status, etc.[33]

Robredo's version of the Freedom of Information Bill (HB 3237[29]) would have required the government agencies to upload on the Open Data Philippines website their documents pertaining to the implementation of their projects and programs, with or without demand for it.[34]

To promote transparency in the taxation process, she sponsored the house version (House Bill 05831) of what would eventually become Republic Act RA10708, the Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act of 2009 (TIMTA)[35][36][37]

Concerned about corruption in agrarian reform, Robredo co-authored House Bill 5841, which would have creatd an Agrarian Reform Commission that will focus on investigating violations against the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).[32][38]

Other major legislation co-authored by Robredo include the Anti-Dynasty Bill[39][40] and the Healthy Beverage Options Act (House Bill 4021).[41]

Many of Robredo's priority positions concerned economics and poverty reduction. Robredo urged government to continue development programs for the underprivileged,[42] and took the position that the burden of paying income tax should be put upon those who can afford it.[43] Robredo also initiated the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT) to help alleviate poverty in the Philippines.[29][44]

During the Priority Development Assistance Fund scandal (PDAF), Robredo called for reforms in terms of transparency, people's participation, and removal of the lawmakers’ discretion over the identification of projects to be funded. She proposed the creation of the District Development Council (DDC) in every legislative district "to act as the sole body that will determine how a congressman's PDAF should be spent."[1][45]

Legislative portfolio

As a member of the 16th Congress, Robredo was one of the principal authors of the house version of “The Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act (TIMTA)” (Republic Act RA10708, House Bill 05831) which was enacted on 2015-12-09.[46]

She also co-authored the house version[47] of the following laws:

  • The “National Children’s Month Act,” Republic Act RA10661 (HB01641) enacted on on 2015-05-29, declaring the celebration of the national children's month on October of every year.
  • The “Charter of the Quezon City Development Authority,” Republic Act RA10646 (HB03899), lapsed into law on 2014-11-08
  • The “Open High School System Act,” Republic Act RA10665 (HB04085) enacted on 2015-07-09, establishing and appropriating funds for the open high school system in the philippines
  • Republic Act RA10638 (HB04089), extending the corporate life of the Philippine National Railways for another fifty (50) years enacted on 2014-06-16
  • Republic Act RA10707 (HB04147), amending the “Probation Law of 1976”enacted on 2015-11-26, rationalizing and strengthening the probation system
  • The “Graphic Health Warnings Law,” Republic Act RA10643 (HB04590) enacted on 2014-07-15, prescribing the printing of graphic health warnings on tobacco products
  • Republic Act RA10655 (HB05280), decriminalizing premature marriages enacted on 2015-03-13
  • The “Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act.of 2015,” Republic Act RA10742 (HB06043) enacted on 2016-01-15

In addition, Robredo was one of many co-authors of the National Budgets for the years 2014 (RA10633, HB02630, enacted on 2013-12-20), 2015 (RA10651, HB04968, enacted on 2014-12-23), and 2016 (RA10717, HB06132, enacted on 2015-12-22).[47]

Robredo was also a key supporter of:

  • HB 4911: People Empowerment Bill to create a partnership between local governments and civil society through the establishment of a people’s council in every local government unit. This act also prescribes the powers and functions of the said council.[33]
  • HB 3432: Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination to prohibit discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, race, religion or belief, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expressions, language, disability, HIV status, and other status, and will provide penalties for it.[33]
  • HB 4021: Healthy Beverage Options to regulate the availability of beverages to children in schools and for other purposes.[48]
  • HB 19: Full Disclosure Policy to require the full disclosure of all information on fiscal management from all national government departments, bureaus, agencies and other instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporation, and their subsidiaries and local governments. This act will also provide penalties for violations of the said requirement.[49]
  • HB 3905: Participatory Budget Process to institutionalize citizens’ participation in the budget process and for other processes.[31]
  • HB 3237: Freedom of Information to strengthen the right of citizens to information held by the government.[49]

2016 vice presidential bid

On October 5, 2015, after her three daughters set aside their initial objections, Robredo announced that she would run for the post of Vice President of the Philippines under the Liberal Party in the 2016 election, as the running mate of presidential candidate Mar Roxas.[5] Robredo won the election with 14,418,817 votes or 35.11 percent of the votes, narrowly defeating closest rival Senator Bongbong Marcos by 263,473 votes or by 0.64 percent.[4]

Personal life

Leni was married to Jesse Robredo, whom she met while working at the Bicol River Basin Development Program (BRBDP), from 1987 until his death from a plane crash in 2012. The couple had three daughters: Jessica Marie, Janine Patricia, and Jillian Therese.[2][9] Their eldest daughter, Jessica, was an executive assistant at the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), while their second eldest Patricia was a UAAP basketball sideline reporter for National University.[50][51][52]

Portrayals in media

Robredo was featured in an episode of ABS-CBN's drama anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya on February 6, 2016, three days before the official campaign period for national candidates in the 2016 elections. Dimples Romana starred the role of Robredo.[53]

Ancestry

References

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  6. That first night, I knew he was gone—Robredo’s wife Inquirer.net (retrieved June 13, 2014)
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  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/10/09/15/leni-robredo-relives-whirlwind-romance-jesse Leni Robredo relives 'whirlwind' romance with Jesse
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  13. http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/108171-leni-robredo-bicol-women-group-support
  14. Robredo widow now Liberal Party head in CamSur Inquirer.net (October 5, 2012)
  15. Leni Robredo files candidacy for House seat Inquirer.net (October 5, 2012)
  16. Leni Robredo ready to enter politics ABS-CBNnews.com (October 5, 2012)
  17. Leni Robredo appointed LP chair in CamSur Rappler.com (October 5, 2012)
  18. Leni Robredo eyes RTC judge post in QC Inquirer.net (October 5, 2012)
  19. Leni Robredo proclaimed winner in Camarines Sur, Philippine Daily Inquirer
  20. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/785167/political-dynasties-win-some-lose-some
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  44. Guiani, Japal J. Jr. “EO 76 - Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT).” Cotabato City.Net. January 31, 2013. Web.Nov 27, 2015.
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  46. http://www.congress.gov.ph/members/search.php?id=robredo-m&pg=auth
  47. 47.0 47.1 http://www.congress.gov.ph/members/search.php?id=robredo-m&pg=coauth
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Preceded by Representative, 3rd District of Camarines Sur
2013 – 2016
Succeeded by
Incumbent