Two Facebook graphics that compared a quote from Vice President Leni Robredo with a statement from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were framed to insinuate that the vice president wants to wage war against China.
A netizen posted a comment calling Robredo foolish for relying on allies to address the country’s territorial dispute over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“Ha? Pareho sa WPS? So himuon mo man nga battleground ang Pilipinas kase umaasa ka na allies ang US? Malooy ka,” (Huh? Same with the WPS? So it’s okay for you to make the Philippines a battleground because we have the U.S. as allies? Have mercy), a netizen reacted.
This needs context.
During the Feb. 3 interview with DZRH AM radio station, Robredo compared the country’s territorial dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea with the threat of a Russian invasion that Ukraine faced at the time. She did not suggest a war against China:
“Pero pinapakita ng Ukraine na kaya niyang ipaglaban ‘yung isang rules-based na pakikipaglaban ng kanyang karapatan dahil strong ‘yung kanyang relationship with the allies. Nandiyan ‘yung US, nandiyan ‘yung European Union”
(But Ukraine has shown that it can defend a rules-based fight for its rights because of its strong relationship with its allies. There’s the U.S., and there’s the European Union).
Read the full story on VERA Files Fact Check.
