Former Vice President and now Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo has officially joined the newest batch of the “Mayors for Good Governance” coalition.
The group confirmed Robredo’s inclusion last week, alongside 51 other mayors from across the country who pledged to align with the movement.
It will be recalled that “good governance” was the central theme of Robredo’s 2022 presidential campaign — a message that, while widely resonant, ultimately fell short of securing her the nation’s highest office.
Founded in 2023 by Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong, the coalition seeks to establish a “matino at malinis na pamahalaan” in the midst of rampant corruption and abuse of power in government.
Other notable members of the movement include Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, who was honored by the U.S. State Department as a Global Anti-Corruption Champion.
As of today, the group has expanded to 253 members, representing only about 16% of the country’s total mayors — a number Magalong admits remains small due to fear among local leaders.
In his interview on Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS), Magalong did not mince words about why many are reluctant to join:
“Isang malaking factor is natatakot sila na baka mawalan sila ng tubig sa gripo kasi binabantayan din sila, mawawalan sila ng pondo,” Magalong said.
His statement points to the harsh reality: local leaders risk losing government funding if they choose to stand against the prevailing political system.