Local leaders' support proof of momentum in Robredo's presidential bid, spox says

The number of local leaders throwing their support for Vice President Leni Robredo's presidential bid in Eleksyon 2022 shows her campaign is gaining ground, her spokesman said on Monday.

Ibarra Gutierrez made the statement after National Unity Party stalwarts Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga and Misamis Oriental Representative Juliet Uy backed Robredo's run for the presidency.

Barzaga, the president of the NUP, and Uy endorsed Robredo's presidential bid even as their party decided to support that of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr.

"We are grateful for the continuing declarations of support for Vice President Leni's presidential bid from local leaders," Gutierrez said.

"This is further proof of the tremendous momentum her candidacy has gained, owing to the strength of the People's Campaign that has shown up to stand with her," he added.

"We are confident that more leaders and more Filipinos will choose to stand with Vice President Leni in the remaining 42 days until election day," Gutierrez said.

Among the governors who expressed support for Robredo include governors Toto Defensor of Iloilo, Bong Lacson of Negros Occidental, Daniel Fernando of Bulacan, Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar, and Edwin Jubahib of Davao del Norte.

Evardone is the executive vice president for the Visayas of the PDP-Laban Cusi faction chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte. Jubahib is the secretary general of Partido Reporma.

Robredo's running mate Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan expressed confidence that the voters would stick with Leni-Kiko tandem even if there  were local officials picking Robredo for president but another candidate for vice president.

“Papayag ba tayo na ang pinili ni Leni, ipapalit sa kung sino-sino. Palagay ko, pulitiko ang nagmamaniobra dito sa mga cross-party tandem pero ang gusto ng taumbayan ay Leni-Kiko at 'yan dapat ang ating isinusulong,” Pangilinan said during a campaign stop in Calbayog, Samar.

(Would we allow that people will decide for us when the Vice President already picked her running mate? These are just maneuvers of politicians but the public has decided that it is Leni-Kiko.)

“Yung maniobra ng mga pulitiko parang gusto nila lusawin yung People’s Campaign. Ang taumbayan ang humiling kay VP Leni na tumakbo siya. At noong tumakbo siya at nag-desisyon, tayo ang kinuha bilang vice president, so andito na tayo,” he added.

(The maneuvers of these politicians are meant to weaken the People's Campaign. It is the public who asked Vice President Leni to run for president. And when she decided to run, it was myself whom she chose to be her vice president and that is why we are here now.)

In a joint press conference with Jubahib and Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez last week, Robredo said that the support of local officials was just as important as the support of the volunteers.

"Malaking malaking bagay siya kasi halimbawa dito, without the governor’s endorsement, without Cong Alvarez’ endorsement, paano kami makakakuha ng suporta from all other local officials?" Robredo said.

"S'yempre, we value the help of all our volunteers, I think they are doing a tremendous job in helping us in the campaign, pero kahit yung volunteers will agree na kapag yung suporta galing sa local officials, everything else becomes easier," she added.

(Local officials' endorsement is really a very big help because without the governor and Congressman Alvarez's endorsement, how will other local officials follow suit? Of course, we value the help of our volunteers who are doing a tremendous job, but even the volunteers will agree that the support of local officials will make the fight easier.) —Llanesca T. Panti/NB, GMA News