Kiko to skip stops that boost Leni with other bets, to strengthen support for her

MAIGO, Lanao del Norte — Senator and vice presidential candidate Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said Thursday that he is willing to skip campaign stops where local officials are only supporting the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo in order to solidify support for his running mate.

Pangilinan made the remarks two days after he skipped the Eastern Samar campaign stop since local officials there have only thrown their support behind Robredo so far.

"Noong nalaman natin na ang ine-endorse lamang ng [inaudible] ay si Leni, para matiyak na talagang lalabas sila at susuportahan siya, minabuti na natin na huwag na munang tumuloy para full force iyong morale ng opisyal para kay VP Leni," Pangilinan told reporters here.

(When I learned that they were only endorsing VP Leni, to ensure that they will really come out and support her, we decided not to come there anymore so that the local officials will show up in full force and in high morale for VP Leni.)

Pangilinan then cited that efforts to pair Robredo with other vice presidential bets are mainly driven by politicians, but that it is the public who holds the true power come election day.

He did not drop names but Mindanao lawmakers Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro and Juliette Uy of Misamis Oriental , as well as Albay representative Joey Salceda, are pushing for a Robredo-Davao City mayor Sara Duterte tandem (ROSA).

Davao del Norte lawmaker Pantaleon Alvarez also said that the local chapter of his Partido Reporma party will be pushing for a Robredo-Vicente Sotto III pairing, which he called "LeTi."

Pangilinan, however, is unfazed.

"You know in the end, taongbayan naman eh, hindi naman pulitiko ang magde-decide. So palagay ko kaya ginagawa ng mga pulitiko iyon nararamdaman nila na lumalakas iyong momentum namin ni VP Leni," he said.

(Ultimately, it is the people, not the politicians, who will decide. Politicians are doing such maneuvering because they feel that the momentum is on the side of VP Leni.)

"Tiwala ako na our message of food security, ang message na lalabanan natin ang gutom at tututukan ang problema ng kawalan ng kabuhayan lalo na sa mga probinsya, at bibigyang diin ang agriculture at mga magsasaka’t mangingisda, as marami pa ring tayong makukuhang suporta," he added.

(I am confident that standing for food security, fighting hunger and addressing unemployment in the provinces by boosting agriculture and assisting fisherfolk would earn us more support.) — BM, GMA News