Pro-Isko IM Pilipinas now backs Leni for president, says goal is to defeat Marcos

The Ikaw Muna (IM) Pilipinas national chapter, initially founded to push for the presidential bid of  Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, has now thrown its support to Vice President Leni Robredo whom they say has the best chance of beating former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. 

Tim Orbos, one of the leaders of IM Pilipinas launched in August last year, said  finishing the race for the rest of the candidates other than Marcos and Robredo will be for naught when it is clear that Robredo is the lone candidate gaining ground with less than a month before the May 9 elections.

"Those who do not believe in surveys...we see it everywhere...lahat ng kalye, lahat ng opisina, dati wala roon, ngayon andun na po ang tarpaulins ni VP Leni. She is in the best position to win this for us. Hindi po ito laban lang ng pink. Laban po ito ng lahat. Otherwise, we will return to what we experienced in the past, and it will be our fault," Orbos said, referring to the Martial law regime of Marcos' father, dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

"We are calling on candidates and their supporters to unite behind Vice President Leni Robredo's campaign for the presidency," he added.

Prior to IM Pilipinas national chapter, IM Pilipinas Cebu City and Zamboanga City chapters also switched support to Robredo by also citing the Vice President's momentum and winnability given her rise in surveys and well-attended campaign rallies.

Members of UP frats back Leni

This developed as some members of two of the University of the Philippines' oldest fraternities expressed support for Robredo's presidential campaign and Senator Francis Pangilinan's vice presidential bid.

More than 340 members of the Upsilon Sigma Phi, the oldest fraternity in Asia, signed a letter of support for the Leni-Kiko tandem which they described as the “spearhead of transformative change and redemption in the Philippines.

The group of Upsilonians said their decision was not influenced by Pangilinan’s membership in the fraternity but was made based on ten criteria: leadership, patriotism, integrity, professional grounding, engagement for development, managerial stamina, charisma, strategic foresight, pride of the Filipino people, and innovative problem-solver.

Some members of the Vanguard Fraternity also declared  “unconditional” support for the Leni-Kiko tandem saying they were the “most qualified” among all candidates running in the National Elections.

“We find VP Leni fit for the highest position of the country for her integrity, and leadership that is decisive, humble, inspiring, inclusive,  just, courageous, knowledgeable, and unselfish,” the signatories said in their statement of support.

“Never in the history of the Philippines has one leader initiated and inspired a movement in the spirit of genuine Bayanihan that draws the best of the Filipino in all sectors of the society,” they said.

Not about finishing campaign

Robredo gained nine percentage points in the latest Pulse Asia poll with 24%, but still way behind Marcos' 56% rating.

Moreno lost ground with only 8% from previous 10%. Senator Manny Pacquiao settled for 6%, while Senator Panfilo Lacson remained stuck at 2%.

Orbos then argued it is not about finishing the race with your first choice of candidate if it would mean a Marcos win.

"They say it is admirable to finish the race. No. We need to remember why we are in the race in the first place. It is not about finishing the campaign. There is no such thing as walang iwanan. Napakadaling sabihin na walang iwanan hanggang dulo. Pero para saan kung hindi naman maibibigay nung [walang iwanan] ang hinahangad natin?" he said in a press conference.

"Hindi masama na suportahan natin ang may pag-asang manalo and push your presidentiables to vote for Vice President Leni. We need to take a drastic measure at this point and consolidate our troops. We are fighting for the same thing: the future of our country, children, and grand children," added Orbos, who served as Metro Manila Development Authority general manager under the Duterte administration.

Support 'very crucial'

In response, Robredo said such support for her presidential bid is crucial and that she does not take it for granted.

"Very crucial 'yung pagpili sa atin ng mga supporters na galing sa ibang sides. Whether from one candidate o from all the other candidates, crucial 'yun kasi papalapit nang papalapit sa eleksyon. Lahat na makakadagdag sa atin, welcome parati," she said after a campaign stop in La Union where she only got around 19,000 votes against Marcos' over 300,000 votes in the 2016 vice presidential race.

(The support from the other side of the fence is very crucial as election draws near. Any effort to boost our ranks is welcome.)

"Nagpapasalamat tayo and sana ma-meet ko sila in person para makapagpasalamat din ako in person (We are grateful and I am hoping to meet them in person)," she added.

'Entitled to own opinion'

Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer Moreno, however, maintained he is unaffected by such defections.

“Demokrasya ito eh. They can do whatever they want to do. They are entitled to their own opinion. Basta ang alam ko sinabi nila sobra daw ang galit nila kay (Ferdinand) Marcos (Jr.). Eh wala naman akong galit kay Marcos,” Moreno said in a media interview before embarking on a motorcade in San Pedro, Laguna.

"I wish them good luck," he added.

Moreno then said he has no reason to give up his 2022 presidential bid.

"'Yung taong bayan nga hindi sumusuko sa mga suliranin na kanilang kinahaharap, anong dahilan natin sumuko (Our people are resolute amid their problems so why should I give up)?” he said.

"Ang laban ko ay laban para sa ordinaryong pamilyang Pilipino. Let’s heal the country. Let us have peace of mind and let’s focus on the real problems. Kung gusto niyo ng peace of mind iboto n'yo po akong presidente bibigyan ko kayo ng kapanatagan," he added.

(My fight is for the ordinary Filipinos. If you elect me as president, I will give you peace of mind).—AOL/NB, GMA News