Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday, Jan. 19, rallied her "kakampinks" or supporters to keep their fighting spirit in the campaign towards the May elections.
Robredo, a leader of the opposition, said they must prepare themselves for a tough battle ahead.
“In the days to come, patigasan po ito ng sikmura kasi marami tayong masamang maririnig laban sa atin. Pero basta alam po natin na tama lang ‘yung ating pinaglalaban, walang dahilan para humina ‘yung ating kalooban (this is a contest on who has the stronger stomach, because we will hear a lot of bad things against us. But as long as we fight for what is right, there’s no reason for us to be discouraged),” Robredo said in a virtual sortie attended by local officials and her supporters from Metro Manila.
Previously, the Robredo People’s Council (RPC) organized the same online meeting with Laguna and Rizal supporters.
Robredo said the proliferation of lies, misinformation, and propaganda against her on social media has made the campaign more difficult.
She repeated her call to her supporters to reach out to those who believe fake news, and explain to them the truth.
“Ito po 'yung (These) next four months magiging busy tayo lahat. Kausapin natin hindi lang 'yung mga kasama na natin pero bawat isa sa atin na nandito, mag-target po tayo ng mga kakilala natin na hindi pa kumbinsido. Bigyan lang natin ng pagkakataon na maipahayag sa kanila 'yung katotohanan (we are all going to be busy. Let’s talk not only with those with us but all of us here, let’s target people we know who are not yet convinced. Let us give an opportunity to tell them the truth),” Robredo said.
READ: Robredo poses toughest challenge yet to ‘kakampinks’: 'Reach out, heal the wounds’
The Vice President also noted the results of mock elections conducted in universities, which showed her as the young voters’ choice for president.
She asked them to campaign for her and her running mate, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, and their senatorial slate to their parents and those who they know have been believing the misinformation against the opposition.
Robredo warned her audience about candidates who are going to put their “best foot forward” during the campaign season, and enjoined them to look at the track record if each candidate before they vote.
“Pero sa’kin, halimbawa, ‘pag sinabi natin na ‘pag ako ay naging Pangulo, aayusin ko 'yung trabaho ko, ano 'yung resibo ko doon? Syempre 'yung resibo ko doon, ano 'yung ginawa ko noong nabigyan ako ng pagkakataong manilbihan (For me, for example, when we say if I become President, I will do my best, what is my proof there? Of course, my receipt is what I did when I was given the chance to serve),” she said.
The aspiring president asked the audience to look at the “consistency” of the candidates’ actions.
“May posisyon kami o wala kaming posisyon, ano ba 'yung ginagawa namin para makatulong sa taumbayan? Maliit man 'yung posisyon o mataas 'yung posisyon, ano ba 'yung ginagawa namin (Whether we’re in a position or not, what are we doing to help the people? Whether the position is low or high, what are we doing)?,” she stressed.
This is the reason, Robredo said, why her office works hard to achieve the highest audit rating from the Commission on Audit (COA), which it has been awarded for three consecutive years.