MANILA, Philippines – Solitary women presidential applicant Vp Leni Robredo possess troubled particular of the female she claims to enable.

While the mass media interview, arguments, and you can online forums went toward complete move with the election year, this new presidential candidates had been questioned whatever they considered breakup, abortion, and you will exact same-intercourse relationship – about three items the world is actually seriously divided regarding.

Robredo gave solutions questioned throughout the devout Catholic that she is: anti-split up, anti-abortion, and anti-same-gender pion the woman sex in her campaign, stating their conviction so you can nonetheless step in with the presidency despite sexist episodes away from President Rodrigo Duterte more the six-year words.

“A knowledgeable man to do the job is actually a female,” Robredo told you within her closing declaration throughout the Fee on Elections’ earliest presidential debate towards Friday, February 19. It’s an obvious regard to a statement she made in an abs-CBN argument when you look at the 2016: “The very last son position is actually a female.”

Brand new Vp could have been called a ladies’ rights champ. A long time before she registered politics, Robredo co-dependent inside the 1989 the fresh new Lakas ng Kababaihan ng Naga Federation, an organization giving degree and living ventures for ladies. She plus portrayed mistreated ladies in courtroom rather attorney which have Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN) for nearly 10 years.

Girls empowerment turned into one of many half benaughty customer service dozen advocacy aspects of Robredo’s trademark Angat Buhay program at the office of your own Vice president, where she spends a gender contact to fight impoverishment.

Despite these, Robredo’s hold over a strong feminist choose might have been affected. Her stances towards said gender issues go against what of numerous advocates were fighting to possess in a nation which is nevertheless significantly less than an effective patriarchal grip.

Are ‘listening’ enough? Feminists assess Robredo’s old-fashioned sex stances

In evaluate to a few off the lady fellow presidential people particularly Senator Manny Pacquiao and you will Manila age-intercourse wedding and abortion respectively, Robredo given noticeable compromises.

In the place of splitting up, Robredo believes present cures in the united states to get out out of a married relationship, instance declaration away from nullity, is going to be generated a whole lot more accessible to poor people. Whenever you are she is physically up against abortion, she are “open to discuss” e-intercourse age-sex unions just weren’t.

They certainly were perhaps not the actual solutions modern feminist groups was in fact in hopes to listen to, however some are willing to financial on the simple fact that the newest Vice president might change the girl notice.

Nervousness more an effective ‘criminal’ decision

“I have been up against abortion,” Robredo told you for the an effective Rappler Cam interviews. “Aunque iyong sa akin, para hindi tayo humantong sa extreme situations, kailangan natin na we-strengthen iyong local fitness – hindi lang establishment, eh, aunque iyong local health qualities (However, I believe, to ensure that we are able to stop acute cases, we must strengthen local fitness place and you may properties),” she said.

The newest Philippines has actually a rigorous rules facing abortion, but it has not avoided ladies in the country off looking to to result in her or him. No less than around three girls die each and every day regarding problem regarding unsafe abortion, with respect to the Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy System.

Grace, not the girl real identity, underwent a secret abortion on the Philippines at start of 2022. She has common this lady story which have an extremely small number of, due to the fact “you do not really know whom to believe.”

The latest 23-year-dated self-employed journalist understood your day she revealed one she is actually pregnant you to definitely she was not emotionally otherwise financially willing to has a child. But simply with a few Yahoo hunt, she were able to supply reliable information throughout the scientific abortion, or abortion created by pills.

Grace found out how female triggered abortions in the regions where process is actually legal. She discovered the names of your pills she must get, additionally the second step is actually acquiring them. Even if abortion is illegal, typing the words “abortion pills Philippines” welcome the girl locate many source that were ready to aid in her condition.