More than 250 teachers and various regional organizations declared their support for Vice President Leni Robredo’s possible presidential bid in 2022, saying that she is the only one who can unite the country and lift it “out of the doldrums.”
The Teachers for Leni was formally launched on Saturday, August 21, to formally express support to Robredo’s rumored run for the presidency in next year’s polls. The group said she can address their plight and improve the quality of education in the country.
In a statement, Teachers for Leni, which is a part of the Team Leni Robredo group of volunteers, said that the vice president’s “brand of leadership will help improve the country’s educational system for the benefit of the youth.”
“Handa kaming makipagbayanihan sa kapwa Pilipino upang isulong ang makatarungan, mapayapa at makataong lipunan. Kami ay naninindigan para sa katotohanan, katapatan, at marangal na paglilingkod sa bayan (We are ready to unite with our fellow Filipinos to push a more just, peaceful, and humane society. We are standing for the truth, honesty, and dignified service to the country),” the teachers stated.
Aside from the teachers’ group, various organizations and regional groups from the National Capital Region, Iloilo, and Pangasinan formally launched their respective coalitions in support of Robredo’s potential presidential bid.
READ: Push for Robredo's presidential bid gains more support — Team Leni
The “NCR for Leni” was formalized on Saturday as it commits to supporting and campaigning for the vice president if she accepts the challenge of running for the presidency in 2022.
“Ipapakita natin sa araw na ito na solido ang suporta ng mga taga-Metro Manila kay Vice President Leni Robredo bilang susunod na Pangulo ng ating bansa (We are going to show today that Metro Manila residents have solid support to Vice President Leni Robredo as the next president of our country),” Nathan Figueroa, one of the convenors of NCR for Leni, said in a statement.
Other groups such as Iloilo for Leni and Team Leni Robredo (TLR) Pangasinan were likewise launched on Saturday, August 21, to express their “firm support” to Robredo.
“Sa lahat ng mga nasa mataas na posisyon ngayon sa gobyerno, si VP Leni Robredo lang ang nakikita naming kumilos talaga para tulungan tayong mga Pilipino na sugpuin ang pandemya (Out of all the high-ranking officials in government, only VP Leni Robredo is helping us Filipinos to suppress the pandemic),” Jerick Agcaoile, TLR Dagupan convenor, said.
Team Leni Robredo, which is behind these regional groups and coalitions, was formally launched on June 12 to show support for Robredo, who was also named as one of the nominees of opposition coalition 1Sambayan then.
READ: ‘United for 2022’: VP supporters to launch Team Leni Robredo on Independence Day
The group will hold a convention on August 30 when they are expected to “amplify their plea” to the vice president “to accept the challenge of running for president next year.”
Robredo remains mum about her plans in 2022, only saying that she is focused on her pandemic response programs. But unlike in the past, volunteer groups said they have a go-signal from her now to convene and raise awareness as long as they don’t put her name and photo on tarpaulins and billboards.