A YouTube video claims that former vice president Leni Robredo has endorsed the senatorial candidates of PDP-Laban, the political party of detained former president Rodrigo Duterte. This is misleading.
Robredo has neither endorsed any candidate from the party nor backed its full senatorial slate. However, she did introduce outgoing SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, who is part of the PDP-Laban senatorial slate, as a “senator.”
Uploaded on April 28, a day after a clip showing Robredo introducing Marcoleta as a senator went viral, the video’s headline read:
“LENI INENDORSO ANG PDP-LABAN! KAKAMPINK NAGALIT (Leni endorsed PDP-LABAN! Kakampink got angry)!”
Its thumbnail bore photos of Robredo and the PDP-Laban senatorial candidates, along with the text: “Leni inendorso ang PDP-Laban at ipinakilala pang future senator! Mga kakampink nagalit kay Leni (Leni endorsed PDP-Laban and even introduced its candidate as future senator. Kakampinks got mad at Leni).”
Robredo, who is running for mayor of Naga City, has not endorsed any of the 10 senatorial bets from the PDP-Laban. But in an event in Naga, she introduced Marcoleta as senator, saying:
“I-welcome po natin — senator na, hindi na congressman — Sen Rodante Marcoleta (Let us welcome – now senator, no longer congressman – Sen. Rodante Marcoleta).”
Source: Asintado sa Radyo Facebook page, “TINGNAN: Mga kandidatong Senador isa-isang bumibisita kay dating Vice President Leni Robredo at hinihingi ang endorsement nito,” April 27, 2025 (from 0:10 to 0:17)
The former vice president neither explicitly confirmed nor denied endorsing Marcoleta, but in a Facebook post of the event, she commented that the video was taken about weeks prior. She said:
“There is so much more than meets the eye. Matagal na ito. About three weeks ago yata (The video was taken long ago, probably about three weeks ago). The one who posted is a propagandist of a Congressional candidate.“
Robredo has so far publicly endorsed six senatorial candidates, including former senators Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino, who were part of her 2022 presidential campaign, as well as former audit commissioner Heidi Mendoza and fisherfolk leader Francisco Ballon.
On April 24, she also raised the hands of former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and former senator Manny Pacquiao, who are both part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate.
Uploaded by YouTube channel Robin Sweet Showbiz, the video has received 17,203 interactions. Facebook users also reposted the link.
