Mc Richard Paglicawan
Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo has denied claims circulating on social media that she secretly travels to Manila every week, calling the allegations false and part of a misinformation campaign.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, July 18, Robredo said she rarely responds to online trolls but decided to address the issue after inaccurate information about her travels gained attention online.
The controversy stemmed from a now-deleted Facebook post by a user identified as “Niko Perez,” which accused Robredo of concealing frequent trips to Manila. The mayor also alleged that the account operates under an assumed name and is reportedly being funded by a local politician.
“This troll started as soon as I decided to run for Mayor of Naga. The name used is an assumed name. Someone else used to handle it. It’s different now. Reports say a local politician is paying for it,” Robredo wrote.
She added that the page’s shifting targets over time made its alleged backer easier to identify.
“It became very obvious who was behind it because when that politician had another rival, the page attacked that person instead. Now it’s targeting me again because we’re inspecting substandard work.”
Robredo clarified that she does not travel to Manila every week, explaining that she usually visits the capital only once a month, typically on Thursdays or Fridays, to coordinate with national government agencies and private-sector partners for projects benefiting Naga City. She said she also schedules the trips to spend time with her daughters before returning to Naga on Sundays.
The mayor said she regularly posts updates about her official activities and does not keep her Manila visits hidden from the public.
“Hindi sinisikreto ang pagpunta ng Manila because I always make a report.”
Robredo also detailed her schedule during the week in question, saying she had initially planned to attend a League of Mayors meeting in Cebu, but her flight was canceled. She returned to work at Naga City Hall after learning of the cancellation before traveling by bus to Manila on Thursday evening for meetings with the Quezon City government and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) the following day.
According to Robredo, her efforts to coordinate with government agencies and private organizations have already secured more than ₱1 billion in assistance for Naga City, even before completing her first year as mayor.
She likewise emphasized that local governance continues uninterrupted whenever she is away, with Vice Mayor Gabby Bordado Jr. serving as acting mayor during her absence.
Robredo also denied allegations that taxpayers shoulder her travel expenses, saying she has never charged her official trips to the city government. She added that she personally pays for fuel expenses and uses a sport utility vehicle purchased by her daughter, Aika Robredo, in 2012 instead of a government-issued vehicle.
“So, no to fake news,” she said.
As of writing, the social media post that prompted Robredo’s statement has been deleted.
