The Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) on Monday, Jan. 17, endorsed the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo, calling her the kind of president the “Philippines truly deserves.”
KANP is the party of human rights lawyer Jose Manuel 'Chel' Diokno, who is running for senator under Robredo’s ticket.
“Our next president is not the president that we need to elect, but she is the president that the Philippines truly deserves. Siya po ang pangulong tunay na natatanging handa. Siya po ang pangulo na tunay at tanging nararapat (She is the only president who is ready. She is the only president who is true and deserving),” KANP chairman and president Kerby Salazar.
Diokno, for his part, said that the country needs a leader like Robredo “more than ever.”
The veteran lawyer described her as someone with “a national consciousness and a national conscience.”
“Leaders whose strength come from within and from above. Leaders who value truth and justice. Leaders who respect the life and dignity of every person. Leaders who follow the path with heart,” he said.
READ: Robredo has a ‘clear’ COVID-19 response platform — Diokno
Robredo thanked the KANP for endorsing her, saying that it is a huge privilege for her that the party trusted her.
“Alam ko po na ‘yung suporta ninyo ay galing sa malalim ninyong pagkakakilala sa amin (I know that your support for us is from your deep knowledge of who we are),” she said.
“Alam ninyo ang track record namin sa bawat krisis, sa bawat bagyo, bawat sakuna, nandiyan tayo, magkakasama tayo (You know our track record in each crisis, in each storm, in each disaster, we are there, we are together),” the vice president added.
Robredo expressed confidence that their volunteers will ensure their win in the end despite their rivals having more money and machinery.
The first step to achieving their dreams, the aspiring president stressed, is to make sure that the government is one that is true to its duties, honest, and trustworthy.
“Kaya nga ang ating battlecry ngayon: sa gobyernong tapat, aangat ang buhay ng lahat (That is why our battlecry now, with an honest government, everyone’s life will be uplifted),” she said, referring to her new campaign slogan.
“Ako po excited ako (I am excited) to fight alongside you,” Robredo told the party members.