ILOILO CITY — Vice President Leni Robredo reminded voters of the sacrifices made by Evelio Javier, the slain governor of Antique province and one of the key players that ignited the Edsa People Power and put an end to the Marcos dictatorship.
“Dapat ang aral ni Evelio Javier ay nasa puso hindi lang ng bawat taga Antique, pero sa bawat Pilipino (The lessons of Evelio Javier should be in the heart of not only the Antiquenos but in every Filipino),” said Robredo during a Feb. 16 campaign sortie in the capital town of San Jose de Buenavista.
Robredo was at the EBJ Freedom Park, the town plaza where Javier was assassinated on Feb. 11, 1986. Javier was an ally of former President Corazon Aquino.
“Nilalabanan niya ang diktatorya ng panahon na yun. Talagang tinaya niya yung buhay at ipinakita kung ano kahirap ng buhay, kailangan tumayo para sa tama at nakakabuti sa taong bayan (He fought the dictatorship. He gave his life to prove that no matter how hard life is, there was a need to stand up for what is right and what is good for the people),” Robredo emphasized.
“In EBJ Feedom Park, Evelio Javier was shot while safeguarding our votes to restore democracy. In EBJ Feedom Park, Leni Robredo stands to ensure that democracy stays alive for years to come. This is not a moment. This is a movement,” said one of the messages given to Robredo.
While majority of the province’s incumbent officials were not at Robredo’s campaign sortie, thousands of Antiqueños were in attendance to show her their support as well as incumbent Vice Governor Ed Denosta and Vice Mayor Raymund Gumboc of Pandan town.
Atty. Ade Santillan Fajardo, a congressional candidate, is also backing Robredo’s candidacy.
But many officials, including Governor Rhodora Cadiao, have publicly supported the presidential bid of Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, whose father was born and raised in Antique.