A 2022 photo of then–Vice President Leni Robredo during the CNN Philippines Presidential Debate is going viral on Facebook, with many netizens calling her response a “warning that came true” amid the unfolding corruption scandals involving the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The debate, held on February 27, 2022, at the University of Santo Tomas, featured nine presidential candidates—though Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was notably absent. Moderated by Pia Hontiveros and Pinky Webb, the forum tackled corruption, infrastructure, transparency, and foreign policy. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, CNN used a virtual audience of 800 participants through Microsoft Teams. During the broadcast, CNN’s website was even hit by a DDoS cyberattack, temporarily disrupting online access.
In one segment, candidates were asked: “What is the first government agency you will investigate for corruption?” Robredo, instead of naming a single office, wrote four: the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and the DPWH.
Her inclusion of DPWH has resurfaced on social media as Filipinos grapple with the latest flood-control scandal, where investigations revealed ghost projects, substandard construction, contractor favoritism, and possible misallocation of billions in climate-tagged funds. The controversy has led to Senate and House hearings, preventive suspensions of DPWH engineers, and even the resignation of Secretary Manuel Bonoan in September 2025. President Marcos has since created an Independent Commission for Infrastructure to probe the anomalies, admitting that over ₱545 billion in flood-control spending since 2022 may have been compromised.
The viral photo of Robredo holding up her whiteboard response has generated thousands of reactions and comments, with supporters emphasizing her foresight. One Facebook user wrote, “We were warned! Leni be like: ‘I told you so.’” Others noted that her stand for transparency and accountability during the debate contrasted sharply with the current scandal engulfing DPWH and other agencies.
At the time, Robredo’s debate performance drew praise for her clarity and firmness, with observers highlighting her strong anti-corruption platform. Today, that same moment has become a rallying point for critics of government corruption—especially as flood-control failures continue to leave Filipinos vulnerable to disasters despite massive infrastructure budgets.
