Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo (Tagalog: [ˈlɛnɪ ɾɔˈbrɛdɔ]; née Gerona; born April 23, 1965) is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 14th vice president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022.

She has received backlash from government supporters for her being staunchly critical to Duterte's policies such as the war on drugs,[4] counter-insurgency initiatives,[5] COVID-19 pandemic response,[6] and soft stance toward China.

Leni Robredo was born as Maria Leonor Santo Tomas Gerona on April 23, 1965, in Naga, Camarines Sur, Philippines.

[12][13] She was the first of three children born to Naga City Regional Trial Court Judge Antonio Gerona (c. 1933–2013) and Salvacion Santo Tomas (1936–2020).

[18][19] Following her admission, Robredo served in the Public Attorney's Office,[20] a role in which she often took up the defense for cases pursued by her husband, who by then had become Mayor of Naga.

[16] From 1998 to 2008, Robredo became the coordinator of Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligan (SALIGAN), a Naga-based alternative legal support group.

The first law Robredo authored in congress was the Full Disclosure Policy Bill (HB 19), which would have mandated all government agencies and their sub-units and projects to disclose their budget and financial transactions in a conspicuous manner "without any requests from the public.

"[35] Concerned that the marginalized sector should not be denied access to government frontline services and public meetings based on their attire,[36] she sponsored the Open Door Policy Act (House Bill No.

This act also prescribes the powers and functions of said council;[42] HB 3432: Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination to prohibit discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, race, religion or belief, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expressions, language, disability, HIV status, and other status, and provide penalties for these;[42] HB 4021: Healthy Beverage Options to regulate the availability of beverages to children in schools and for other purposes;[55] HB 19: Full Disclosure Policy to require the full disclosure of all information on fiscal management from all national government departments, bureaus, agencies, and other instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries and local governments.

[75] Robredo first met President Rodrigo Duterte personally at the Armed Forces of the Philippines change-of-command ceremonies at Camp Aguinaldo on July 1, 2016, a day after their inauguration.

[78] Robredo is the third vice president to head the government agency focused on housing programs, following her immediate predecessors Noli de Castro and Jejomar Binay.

Citing a lack of evidence to the claims, a group of lawyers and academics filed an impeachment attempt against Robredo for allegedly "betraying her oath to defend the country.

[84] On November 4, 2019, Duterte assigned Robredo to be co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) until the end of his term in 2022, said presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo.

As of January 2022, her flagship anti-poverty program Angat Buhay has benefitted 622,000 families in 223 cities and municipalities across the country since she assumed office in 2016.

The Angat Buhay program focuses on six key advocacy areas, namely: public education, rural development, food security and nutrition, women empowerment, universal healthcare, and housing and resettlement.

[90] In the same month, Robredo called on fellow Filipinos to remember the 165 soldiers and police who gave their lives for the liberation of Marawi City.

'[99] The opposition candidates ran under the "Otso Diretso" slate, which included former senator Mar Roxas, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, Mindanao peace advocate Samira Gutoc-Tomawis, human rights lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno, former congressman Erin Tañada, former solicitor general Florin Hilbay, senator Bam Aquino, and Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano.

Robredo has been a constant victim of memes and "fake news" articles since taking office in 2016, some of which she claims emanate from a Senate source.

[103][104][105][106] Numerous fake news stories have been manufactured on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other blog sites against Robredo after she won the vice presidency in 2016, a portion of which were fabricated by pro-Duterte bloggers.

[111][112] Hours after the announcement, a source from Robredo's camp revealed that she had selected senator and Liberal Party president Francis Pangilinan as her running mate.

[121] On October 5, 2024, Robredo officially filed her candidacy for mayor under the Liberal Party banner before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) office in Naga.

[132] On November 26, 2019, Robredo called on the government to assure that troop deployments in Samar, Negros, and Bicol would not lead to martial law.

[137] Leni was married to Jesse Robredo, whom she met while working at the Bicol River Basin Development Program, from 1987 until his death from a plane crash in 2012.

[141][142][143][144][145] From May 14, 2017, Robredo has hosted her own public service radio program entitled BISErbisyong LENI, aired on DZXL, until June 26, 2022, after her term end as vice president.

It also acknowledged her significant role in the Angat Buhay program, which aimed to provide assistance to Filipinos in need and improve their quality of life.

Robredo's education at UNC played a pivotal role in shaping her career as a lawyer and public servant, making this recognition particularly significant.

The UPAA commended her for her continuous work in uplifting fellow Filipinos, recognizing her contributions as a lawyer, development worker, and government official.

[155] Leni Robredo's receipt of these honors and recognitions reflects her enduring commitment to making positive changes in society and her dedication to various causes, including women's rights, public service, and international relations.