Sans Marcos, Honasan, 4 VP bets woo voters with vision, reason for running   

 

Senators Antonio Trillanes IV, Alan Peter Cayetano, Francis Escudero, and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo sought to earn voters' nod Sunday by sharing their reason for running for vice president and their plans for the country.

 

Only four vice presidential candidates faced the audience at the “Harapan ng Bise” debate sponsored by ABS-CBN after Senators Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Gringo Honasan decided to skip the event.

 

A statement issued by the network's public relations arm said the two senators were also invited to the debate but they were unable to attend “due to a scheduling conflict.”

 

As the first candidate to speak on stage, Trillanes touted his record as the senator who was able to pass the most number bills into law as principal author and sponsor since his first term in 2007.

 

After fighting for the rights of various sectors as a lawmaker, Trillanes said he is once again ready to offer his life in the country's service as vice president.

 

“Ngayong darating na halalan, handa akong muli na ialay ang aking buhay sa ating inang bayan dahil hindi pa tapos ang ating ipinaglalaban. Marami pa ring masasamang elemento sa ating lipunan na nananamantala sa kapwa. Kailangan natin silang harapin at pabagsakin,” he said.

 

After Trillanes spoke, Cayetano challenged voters to think ahead of election day whether they want to maintain the status quo or bring about change.

 

“Dalawa lamang po ang pagpipilian natin sa eleksyon na ito: magbago o mapako. Mapako at ang makikinabang lang ay iilan at ang palpak at mabagal na gobyerno, ito pa rin, or magbago tayo. Manaig ang interes ng lahat, di lang ng iilan,” he said.

 

Escudero, for his part, vowed to address poverty should he win as vice president.

 

“Sa Gobyernong may Puso, nais po namin patayin ang gutom, hindi ang gutom. Nais po namin patayin ang kahirapan, hindi ang mahirap. Ito ang layunin, ito ang mithiin, ito ang pangarap at nais naming makita sa ating bansa upang tunay na maging maunlad, tunay na maging malaya mula sa kahirapan ang ating mga kababayan at maibsan ang kanilang pagtitiis gayundin ang kanilang paghihinagpis,” he said.

 

The senator expressed hope that voters would win in the second vice presidential debate, and that the Filipino people would emerge victorious in the upcoming elections.

 

Speaking last, Robredo recalled her surprise upon getting wind of the news that the Sumilao farmers who had fought for their land were set to march again from Bukidnon to Manila in support of her candidacy.

 

She had helped the farmers in their case in 2007 as a lawyer for a non-government organization.

 

Referring to the farmers, Robredo said: "Yung kanilang ginagawa ngayon, labis akong nagulat dahil hindi ko man lang inaasahan na pagkatapos ng maraming taon, sila naman ang sasali sa aking laban," she said.

 

Recalling her and her children's earlier hesitation for her to run for vice president, the widow of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said she always prays for the strength to remain grounded.

 

"Kaya gabi-gabi po, nagdadasal ako na bigyan ako ng sapat na lakas para patuloy na mamuhay ng simple, para patuloy na magsilbi nang matapat..." she said. — APG, GMA News