Robredo: We understand local politicians’ silence on backing nat’l candidates

Vice President Leni Robredo joins Ahon Laylayan Coalition Cebu Convenor Bimbo Fernandez and (L) and National Convenor Dan Ludovice during the Ahon Laylayan event in Cebu on April 28, 2019. | CDNDigital Photo/ Rosalie O. Abatayo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — For Vice President Leni Robredo, the lack of ‘visible’ support by local allies in Cebu towards the opposition senatorial candidates should not be a cause of ill feelings among them.

The country’s second highest official, who stands as the figurehead of the opposition, said they had expected from the very start that their local counterparts might not be able to show utmost support to their national candidates due to the political climate.

“Expected natin yan (the inactivity of local allies) from day 1. Expected natin kasi kakaiba yung political climate ngayon at iniintindi natin,” Robredo said in the sidelines of the Ahon Laylayan Coalition event in Cebu City on Sunday afternoon, April 28.

(That is expected [the inactivity of local allies] from day 1. We were expecting that because of the political climate today and we understand that.)

All the eight senatorial candidates from Otso Diretso were present in the activity which was held at the Plaza Independencia in this city’s downtown area.

Read more: Otso Diretso senatorial candidates woo 3M Cebu voters

Since the start of the campaign, this has been the third time that Otso Diretso courted Cebuanos for the May 13 polls. However, none of the local counterparts of Liberal Party has shown up in their sorties.

There are five local candidates in Cebu, who are running under Liberal Party. Among them are Governor Hilario “Junjun” Davide III who is running for Cebu vice governor, reelectionist fourth district Board Member Horacio Franco, seventh district Sangguniang Panlalawigan bet Erick Gica, Aloguinsan Vice Mayoral candidate Danilo Margallo and Cebu City first district reelectionist Representative Raul del Mar.

According to Robredo,  most of their campaign activities are organized by local volunteers, who would even shell out resources for the campaign collaterals.

“Nagpapasalamat tayo na at least meron tayong mga volunteers na malakas ang loob na gawin ito. Naiiintinihan naman natin yung local officials at tumutulong naman yung iba sa kanila in some ways,” Robredo said.

(We are grateful that there are volunteers, who still have the courage to support us. We understand though the actions of the local officials but others are helping us in some other ways.)

“Ito kasi, political reality na kailangang tanggapin namin at hindi dapat maging source ng samaan ng loob kasi maraming factors yung contributory kung bakit ganito yung [political] climate,” she said.

(This is the political reality that we need to accept and this should not be a source of bad feelings because there are several contributory factors why this is the political climate today.)

Cebu is the second province yet where the Otso Diretso slate has been complete for their campaign. The first was in Naga City, Robredo’s hometown and bailiwick when they kicked off their campaign last February.

Having over 3 million voters, Cebu is the most vote-rich province in the entire country.

Read more: Robredo optimistic but also realistic about Otso Diretso’s chances in Cebu

Robredo admitted that in most cases, the senatorial candidates go to the campaign activities on their own to make the most out of the time left before the election day which comes in 15 days.

“Bihira akong may makasama sa walo most of the time mag-isa ako nag-iikot pinapakilala ko sila isa-isa. Pero itong Cebu from the very start pinlano na kapag magkaroon dito ng isang event sasama yung walo at nag-work out naman kasi libre ang lahat today,” said Robredo.

(I would seldom join the eight senatorial candidates in their sorties. Most of the time I would be alone in visiting areas where I would introduce them one by one. But here in Cebu, we have planned it that there would be a big event that we can all join in, and it worked today because everyone had their free time today.)

Police Major Joemar Pomarejos, Waterfront Police Precinct chief, whose police officers secured Plaza Independencia during the event, said the sortie was attended by at most 2,ooo people.

After the event, the Otso Diretso slate went on a caravan to catch another sortie in Toledo City at 7 p.m.

Earlier in the morning, three Otso Diretso candidates namely Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano, Samira Gutoc and lawyer Erin Tañada also visited Argao town for a dialogue with local multisectoral groups./dbs