Vice President Leni Robredo took time from her busy schedule to thank her supporters who fought alongside her in the last five years that she’s been mocked, ridiculed, and called fake on social media. 

She posted a video of how she spent her day after her Supreme Court victory on the poll protest, detailing how she had to shoot 18 video messages for various groups and organizations. She also held several meetings but took the time to attend mass to commemorate Ash Wednesday. 

But toward the end of the video, Robredo became emotional once more when she thanked her supporters, especially those she hasn’t met in person. 

“Ang hindi alam ng lahat iyong napakarami sa inyo na sinuportahan kami in one way or another in connection with the protest. Marami sa inyo iyong tumulong online. Wala tayong resources, wala tayong makinarya para kontrahin iyong maraming well-funded trolls na gumagawa talaga ng fake news, fake information (What they do not know is that there are many of you who supported us, in one way or another in connection with the protest. Many of you helped online. We do not have resources. We do not have the machinery to go against well-funded trolls who are making up fake news, fake information),” she said.

Robredo added that a lot of her detractors declared themselves as vice president, alluding to supporters of defeated vice presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong“ Marcos Jr. who call Robredo fake VP on social media. 

Referring to her supporters, Robredo acknowledged those who fought against these attacks and helped unmask the truth about the real winner during the 2016 vice presidential race. 

“So maraming maraming, maraming salamat sa inyo. (So, thank you very, very, very much to you),” she said. 

Robredo shared that many of her supporters mobilized to show their support for her, with some staying outside the SC despite the heat and rain. She also remembered one of her supporters who shaved his head to show unity. 

“Maraming ibang klase iyong suportang pinakita para dito sa protest. So maraming maraming salamat. Gusto kong i-share iyong kagalakan na ito sa inyo, kasi alam ko na naging bahagi talaga kayo ng laban natin (There are many forms of support we saw during this protest. So, thank you very, very much. I want to share with you all this joy because I know you were part of our fight),” the vice president said in the video. 

But more work needs to be done, Robredo said, adding that she can now focus on the “work ahead.”

However, she made a video because she wanted to thank everyone who helped her and show her appreciation for them. Although she won’t be able to thank her supporters personally for now because of the health protocols, the vice president said she one day wants to thank them all personally, whether in her office or someplace else. 

Robredo ended the video, saying: “Tagumpay nating lahat ito (This victory is for all of us).”

On Tuesday, February 16, the SC, sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), unanimously junked Marcos’ electoral protest, with seven justices fully concurred in the dismissal while eight concurred in the results.