An aggrupation of more than 200 volunteer groups has issued a manifesto expressing their full support to Vice President Leni Robredo will decide to run for president in the 2022 election.
The various groups held an online event on Monday, Aug. 30 where they also paid tribute to Robredo’s leadership quality especially during these challenging times under the COVID-19 pandemic.
Called “Kay Robredo, Taumbayan ang Panalo: The People’s Convention”, the online event was streamed via several Facebook pages including Team Leni Robredo, Friends of Leni Robredo and Dapat Si Leni where several representatives and groups expressed full support for the Vice President and her programs that benefit the Filipino people.
They noted that despite the meager budget of the Office of the Vice President, Robredo has managed to find ways to help provide the needs of frontline health workers and those most affected by the pandemic.
In their manifesto, the volunteer groups said only Robredo can lift the country from the effects of the pandemic, give a better life to the poor, remove the country from poverty and bring back the dignity of the Filipino people.
They also promised to convince other people to support their bid to bring Robredo to Malacanang in 2022.
During the virtual meet, Rammy Bitong, a former dancer turned DJ and one of the hosts of the program, came up with an acronym for Robredo's first name, calling her a leader who knows how to Listen, Empathize, Nurture, and Inspire or LENI.
"Malay mo, it will be like what happened last time. The last man standing is a woman — and look how much good that woman did for us," added Bitong, saying Robredo is a leader who will fight for what's right and won't leave the Filipino people behind.
Joselito Pamisa Llesis, a young Lumad who traveled two hours from Bukidnon to Cagayan de Oro just to send a video of his testimonial, said Lumads are experiencing difficulty on the issue of their ancestral domain claim.
"Wala po kaming ibang hangad kundi mabigyan ng tamang representasyon sa gobyerno. Walang ibang may potential na kandidato tumulong at tutulong sa atin kundi si Leni Robredo lang (Our only wish is to have proper representation in government. No other candidate has the potential to help us other than Leni Robredo)," said Llesis.