VP Leni: “Pag tayo po nagkamali sa eleksyon, magdudusa na naman tayo ng anim na taon”
SAGAY CITY, Negros Occidental – Presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo once again underscored the importance of choosing the right leaders in the coming May 9 elections as the top local executives of vote-rich Negros Occidental backed her presidential bid.
“Sa first-time voters, kahit hindi first-time voters, pangalagaan po natin ‘yung boto natin dahil ‘yan ‘yung kapangyarihan natin. Pag tayo po nagkamali sa eleksyon, magdudusa na naman tayo ng anim na taon,” Robredo said in her stump speech at the people’s rally in Sagay City on Friday morning, March 11.
Thousands of Robredo’s supporters gathered at the open-air venue in Sagay, cheering her and her running mate, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.
Before Sagay, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio “Bong” Lacson endorsed Robredo’s bid at an early morning people’s rally in San Carlos City.
“The victory of our candidate is in your hands. This election on May 9, we do not need to listen to our elders. Let us make the decision for ourselves,” Lacson said in Hiligaynon, as he introduced Robredo on stage at the open court at the Bishop’s Compound.
“Our candidate is intelligent. Our candidate is sincere. Our candidate is helpful. And our candidate is trustworthy,” he said as the crowd erupted in cheers to welcome Robredo.
Also at the San Carlos people’s rally were San Carlos Bishop Gerry Alminaza and former Negros Occidental governor Lito Coscolluela.
The province is expected to back Robredo anew after Negrenses gave her a huge win in the 2016 vice-presidential elections where she received almost 600,000 votes.
Negros Occidental District Rep. Leo Rafael “Bebo” Cueva, Sagay City Mayor Alfredo “Thirdy” Marañon III, Cadiz City Mayor Bading Escalante, former Mayor Patrick Escalante, and Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor, Jr. were at the Sagay people’s rally.
They were joined by feisty former elections commissioner Rowena Guanzon. Before she retired, Guanzon had voted for the disqualification of the dictator’s son and namesake, Ferdinand Marcos, from the presidential race.
It was yet again another whole day of barnstorming for the tireless Robredo.
She went to Kabankalan for a people’s rally and visited a community learning hub in Barangay Brgy. Caradio-an in Himamaylan, where some of the parents were teary-eyed to see Robredo. The CLH is a COVID-19 response initiative of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) that helped both parents and students cope with the sudden shift to online classes because of the pandemic. Tutors, gadgets, internet connection, as well as printing school requirements for available for free at the OVP’s CHLs.
Robredo was also at the Binalbagan Catholic College for a meet and greet with the different sectors from the province’s fifth district.
Later in the afternoon, the presidential candidate’s daughters, Aika, and Tricia, joined her at the Hinigaran Public Plaza followed by a rally at the La Carlota City plaza.
Robredo’s day-long barnstorm of the province will culminate in a grand people’s rally at the Paglaum sports stadium in Bacolod City, where supporters hope to match and perhaps even supersede the warm welcome given by 40,000 counterparts in Iloilo in February, and 47,000 in Cavite in early March. [End]
