Leni Robredo

This name uses Philippine naming customs; the middle name or maternal family name is Santo Tomas and the surname or paternal family name is Gerona.
Leni Robredo

Robredo in 2013
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Camarines Sur's Third District[1]
Assumed office
June 30, 2013
Preceded by Luis Villafuerte
Personal details
Born Maria Leonor Santo Tomas Gerona
(1964-04-23) April 23, 1964
Naga, Camarines Sur, Philippines
Nationality Filipino
Political party Liberal Party
Spouse(s) Jesse Robredo (m. 1987; wid. 2012)
Children 3
Alma mater University of the Philippines Diliman (BA)
University of Nueva Caceres (BL)
Occupation Lawyer
Religion Roman Catholicism
Website www.lenirobredo.com

Leni Robredo (born Maria Leonor Santo Tomas Gerona; April 23, 1964)[2] is a Filipino lawyer, social activist, and politician who has been serving as the representative of the Third District of Camarines Sur to the Philippine House of Representatives since 2013.

She 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, Robredo's involvement in public life was as a lawyer and social activist. In 2015, she announced her candidacy for Vice President of the Philippines in the 2016 election under the Liberal Party.

Early life

Maria Leonor Santo Tomas Gerona was born on April 23, 1964 in Naga, Camarines Sur, Philippines.[3] She is the eldest of the three children of retired Naga City Regional Trial Court Judge Antonio Gerona and Salvacion Sto. Tomas.[4]

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 at the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1986. She studied Law at University of Nueva Caceres, graduating in 1992 and passing the bar exam in 1996.[2]

Activism

Inspired by the People Power Revolution after graduating from UP Diliman,[5] Gerona chose to temporarily forego law studies and instead began working at the Bicol River Basin Development Program (BRBDP),[6] an agency tasked to undertake integrated area development planning in the three provinces of the Bicol region.[7] It was here that she met then-Program Director Jesse Robredo, who would eventually become her husband.[7]

After passing the bar exam in 1996,[2] Robredo served in the Public Attorney's Office,[5] a role in which she often took up the defense for cases pursued by her husband, who by then had become Mayor of Naga.[6]

After a stint in the Public Advocate's Office, Robredo became the coordinator Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligan (SALIGAN) a Naga-based alternative legal support group.[6] SALIGAN's work[6] involved visiting distant rural communities to provide legal services to residents who would otherwise have little or no access to it, conducting legal advocacy by proposing amendments and new laws based on the needs of these marginalized comunities, and later, helping rural women to acquire capital in order become competitive markets.[8]

In addition, she founded the Lakas ng Kababaihan ng Naga Federation, an organization that provides training and livelihood opportunities for women, in 1989.[9]

Political career

In 2005, Robredo was named the chairperson of the Liberal Party in Camarines Sur,[10][11][12][13][14] In 2007, Robredo served as the coordinator of Naga City based Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligan (SALIGAN), which made use of paralegal education and networking to obtain growth and development.[15] The project aims to spark the inner leaders in the youth.[16]

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 Luis Villafuerte, a newspaper columnist of the Manila Bulletin, and former Monetary Board member.[17]

Issues

Robredo delivering a speech during a LP campaign rally in Quezon City, February 17, 2016
Leni Robredo at an event in Canaman, Camarines Sur

Robredo advocated for the Freedom of Information Act,[18] has been a strong supporter of the Bangsamoro Basic Law,[19][20] and was one of the primary authors of the Tax Incentives Transparency bill.[21][22] Robredo has said that the burden of paying income tax should be put upon those who can afford it.[23] Robredo initiated the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT) to help alleviate poverty in the Philippines.[24][25]

Robredo has urged government to continue development programs for the underprivileged.[26] Robredo has stated that Filipinos who are in the marginalized sector should not be denied access to government frontline services and public meetings based on their attire.[27] She has sponsored the House Bill No. 6286,or the Open Door Policy Act.[28] In this act, government offices and agencies will not be able to implement strict dress codes.[29]

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.[30] Robredo also authored the Full Disclosure Policy Bill (HB 19), Participatory Budget Process Bill (HB 2905), the Freedom of Information Bill (3237) and the People Empowerment Bill (HB 4911).[25] She also authored the People Empowerment Bill which seeks to allow more participation from Filipinos in decision and policy-making.[31] She wrote the Participatory Budget Process Bill to increase participation in budget-related decisions in government projects by locals.[25][32][33]

Robredo sponsored the Freedom of Information B, Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act and Full Disclosure Policy Bill which proposes to mandate all government agencies and their sub-units and projects to disclose in a conspicuous manner their budget and financial transactions "without any requests from the public."[34] Robredo also authored the HB No. 5831 or the Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act.[35] Robredo’s version of the Freedom of Information Bill requires 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.[36]

Robredo is concerned about corruption in agrarian reform and co-authored House Bill 5841, which will create an Agrarian Reform Commission that will focus on investigating violations against the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).[33][37] Robredo she co-authored the Anti-Dynasty Bill.[38][39] Robredo filed the Healthy Beverage Options Act 4021.[40]

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][41] Robredo led the ‘Araw ng Pagbasa’ story-telling activities in Balara Elementary School in Quezon City.[42]

Robredo has been a key supporter of:

Candidacy for vice president, 2016

On October 5, 2015, after the initial objections by her three daughters, it was officially revealed that Robredo will be running for the post of Vice President of the Philippines under the Liberal Party, as the running mate of presidential candidate Mar Roxas, in the 2016 election.[3] 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.[46]

Personal life

Leni married Jesse Robredo in 1987. The couple had three daughters before Jesse's death in a plane crash in 2012.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 "Hon. Gerona-Robredo, Leni". Official 16th Congress Website. House of Representatives, Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Vote PH 2016: Leni Robredo". Philippine Daily Inquirer. April 10, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Leni Robredo: I can't refuse call to serve". Rappler.
  4. ↑ That first night, I knew he was gone—Robredo’s wife Inquirer.net (retrieved June 13, 2014)
  5. 1 2 Francisco, Katerina (October 5, 2015), "Leni Robredo: Low-key political wife goes national", Rappler.com, retrieved April 15, 2016
  6. 1 2 3 4 Melendez, Paolo Enrico (April 22, 2016). "The Evolution of Leni Robredo: How the VP Underdog Became the Race’s Strongest Contender". Rogue Magazine (Makati: Rogue Media, Inc.). Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/10/09/15/leni-robredo-relives-whirlwind-romance-jesse Leni Robredo relives 'whirlwind' romance with Jesse
  8. ↑ How Leni Robredo and her group help empower women and farmers (YouTube Video). Mandaluyong City: Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. April 12, 2016.
  9. ↑ http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/108171-leni-robredo-bicol-women-group-support
  10. ↑ Robredo widow now Liberal Party head in CamSur Inquirer.net (October 5, 2012)
  11. ↑ Leni Robredo files candidacy for House seat Inquirer.net (October 5, 2012)
  12. ↑ Leni Robredo ready to enter politics ABS-CBNnews.com (October 5, 2012)
  13. ↑ Leni Robredo appointed LP chair in CamSur Rappler.com (October 5, 2012)
  14. ↑ Leni Robredo eyes RTC judge post in QC Inquirer.net (October 5, 2012)
  15. ↑ "About Leni - Leni Robredo Official Website". Leni Robredo Official Website. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Will children make good leaders? | Mindanao Times". mindanaotimes.net. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  17. ↑ Leni Robredo proclaimed winner in Camarines Sur, Philippine Daily Inquirer
  18. ↑ Marc Jayson Cayabyab. "Leni Robredo urges adoption of House FOI bill version".
  19. ↑ Aries Joseph Hegina. "LIST: How did your representatives vote on the BBL?".
  20. ↑ "22 House members urge support for Bangsamoro Basic Law". Sun.Star.
  21. ↑ "House OKs Tax Incentives Transparency bill". philstar.com.
  22. ↑ "BusinessWorld - Grief, and why I will campaign for Leni".
  23. ↑ "Leni Robredo reveals her platforms". cnn. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  24. ↑ Guiani, Japal J. Jr. “EO 76 - Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT).” Cotabato City.Net. January 31, 2013. Web.Nov 27, 2015.
  25. 1 2 3 "Leni on BUB, cabinet portfolio and others - Liberal Party of the Philippines". Liberal Party of the Philippines. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Leni Robredo eyes more help to jeepney, tricycle drivers - Leni Robredo Official Website". Leni Robredo Official Website. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Leni Robredo eyes lifting of gov’t dress code for ordinary Filipinos - Liberal Party of the Philippines". Liberal Party of the Philippines. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  28. ↑ "House Bill No. 6286 (Open Door Policy Act).pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  29. ↑ "House Bill No. 6286 (Open Door Policy Act).pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Leni Robredo: The reluctant candidate now seeks VP post in 2016". GMA News Online.
  31. ↑ "[HB4911] People Empowerment Bill.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  32. 1 2 "[HB03905] BUB.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  33. 1 2 Maria Ressa (Interviewer), Leni Robredo (October 12, 2015). Rappler Talk: Leni Robredo on running for VP (YouTube Video). Rappler. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Leni Robredo's first bill: Full disclosure in gov't transactions". philstar.com. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  35. ↑ "Senate passes Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act". Rappler. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  36. ↑ "Leni Robredo urges adoption of House FOI bill version". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  37. ↑ "Leni Robredo: Probe corruption in land distribution - Liberal Party of the Philippines". Liberal Party of the Philippines. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  38. ↑ "Cong. Robredo's Statement on the Anti-Dynasty Bill - Leni Robredo Official Website". Leni Robredo Official Website. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  39. ↑ "Robredo: Dynasty bill may be passed yet". philstar.com. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  40. ↑ "Healthy Beverage Options Act 4021 Proposed for Schools". SmartParenting.com.ph. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  41. ↑ "How do you solve the pork barrel problem? Rep. Leni Robredo gives her two cents". InterAksyon.com.
  42. ↑ "Robredo leads ‘Araw ng Pagbasa’ story-telling". Leni Robredo Official Website. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  43. 1 2 "[HB03432] Comprehesive Anti-Discrimination.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  44. ↑ "[HB4021] Healthy Beverage Options Bill.PDF". Google Docs. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  45. 1 2 "[HB3237] Freedom of Information.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  46. ↑ Cupin, Bea (February 3, 2016). "3 days before campaign, MMK to feature Robredo". Rappler. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
Preceded by
Luis Villafuerte		 Representative, 3rd District of Camarines Sur
2013 – 2016 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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