(Eagle News) — Members of the Liberal Party including Vice President Leni Robredo drew flak from netizens after a picture of them happily posing at the Holocaust memorial in Berlin, Germany circulated online.
Apart from Robredo, Senator Francis Pangilinan, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr., Quezon City Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte, Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad were seen smiling at the monument meant to honor those who were killed during the persecution of Jews by the Nazis.
Only Baguilat, who posted the picture, has since issued a statement on the matter.
On Sunday, April 15, Robredo only confirmed in a post that their trip to Germany was not financed by government funds but by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.
“I apologize for this lapse in my post,” Baguilat said.
He noted that LP members were “human rights advocates,” who “fully understand the plight experienced by Jews under the Nazis..”
“Victims of EJKs, slain journalists and environmental advocates, slain tribal leaders – dumaan din sila sa kanilang holocaust and each time we dismiss this as ‘the new normal,’ tuwing tatahimik tayo, we lose our sense of humanity too,” he said.
As such, he said “we would be the last to disrespect their memory, in the same way that we condemn injustice anywhere in the world, including our own country.”
“As Liberals, we listen to all sorts of opinions. And we are appreciative of the countless advocates of human rights for sharing their thoughts. I hope this will make others express their outrage over the EJKs. The blood stains on the streets are their memorial,” he added.
LP members have been very vocal of President Rodrigo Duterte and his war on drugs, which they have said violated the rights of drug suspects.