Although Vice President Leni Robredo is reportedly a bottom-dweller in election surveys, her spokesman Barry Gutierrez, is perplexed that rival presidential candidates are attacking her as early as now.
The spokesman noted that many of Robredo’s rivals in the race are targeting her when the election campaign season has not begun yet.
“Mula noong nagdeklara si VP Leni, di ba sinasabi ng mga tao bumubuntot naman sa survey ‘yan, hindi malakas ‘yan. Pero bakit parang ang napapansin ko lang…halos lahat yata ng ibang mga kandidato siya ‘yung binabanatan, siya ang pinupuntirya (Since VP Leni announced her candidacy, others are saying that she’s lagging in surveys, she’s not a strong candidate. I’m noticing almost all the other candidates are attacking her, she’s their target),” Gutierrez said over dzXL on Sunday, October 17.
The latest presidential preference survey showed Robredo only with 8 percent, lagging behind Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, former Senator Bongbong Marcos, and Senator Manny Pacquiao.
But since she announced her candidacy on Oct. 7, she has been the subject of criticism by Moreno and Senator Panfilo Lacson, both of whom joined the 2022 presidential race, too.
READ: Robredo shrugs off Isko's tirades: 'We have bigger problems'
Gutierrez belied claims that the vice president has no support from local government units (LGUs), adding that some Liberal Party (LP) members such as Cebu Vice Governor Junjun Davide have already announced their support.
He noted there are also local government officials from the north, a bailiwick of the Marcoses, and in Robredo’s home region of Bicol.
The spokesman said that others are still biding their time when it’s best to show their support although they have already reached out to the vice president.
“Ang inaasahan namin at ang kinatutuwa namin ay iyong suporta ng ordinaryong mamamayan. Iyong mga lumabas nang nagsimula noong Huwebes (What we are expecting and what we’re happy about is the support of the ordinary Filipinos. Those who have come out since Thursday),” he stressed.
He mentioned supporters have been wearing pink shirts, organizing motorcades such as the ones in Bicol, Cebu, and Laguna, putting pink ribbons on the gates of their homes, and changing their profile pictures to support Robredo.
READ: ‘A people’s campaign’: VP Leni emboldened by volunteers’ caravans in Bicol, other provinces
Even celebrities and social media influencers have voiced out their support for the vice president with Gutierrez noting that they haven’t even met many of these people.
Those with a huge following on social media will be a big help because they can amplify Robredo’s message.
“Ang hinihiling naman natin dito simple—ilabas lang natin iyong totoo tungkol kay VP Leni (We’re asking for something simple—let’s spread the truth about VP Leni),” Gutierrez said, noting they have counted more than 100 celebrities supporting Robredo.
He added that Robredo’s volunteers and supporters must also raise awareness about the vice president.
“Iyong nakikita ninyo kay VP Leni uri ng liderato, ‘yung uri ng serbisyo ikalat lang natin. Ikwento lang natin atsigurado ako mas madaming pang sasama sa mga sumusuporta at naniniwala sa ating bise presidente (The kind of leadership and service that we’re seeing in VP Leni, let’s spread it. Let’s talk about it and I am sure there are many who will join to support and believe in our vice president),” he added.
Robredo’s camp promised a people’s campaign, a volunteer-driven campaign owing to the vice president’s lack of finances, machinery, and resources.