'She is the answer': Support pours out for Robredo in Cagayan De Oro
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The outpouring of support for presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo here is unexpected by her team, as supporters surprised her on Tuesday, Feb. 22, by lining up along the route of the motorcade, shouting her name and handing her bouquets of flowers.
Perhaps, this is the effect of having Cagayan De Oro City Mayor and Misamis Oriental gubernatorial candidate Oscar “Oca” Moreno and his running mate Ayi Hernandez by her side.
It might even be, as Robredo put it, the realization that the upcoming polls is the most important elections of their lives.
“She is the answer,” Moreno said of Robredo during a campaign rally in Divisoria, Cagayan De Oro City on Tuesday night.
The rally was also attended by senatorial bets former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr., reelectionist Senator Richard Gordon, and lawyer Alex Lacson.
The crowd roared in agreement even as the city is a known political stronghold of the Dutertes of Davao and despite the fact that their own Mindanaoan, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, is running alongside former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Robredo thanked the crowd in Cagayan De Oro for their high energy as they welcomed her. She said this is the first time she saw them this “wild.”
“Huhulaan ko kung bakit kayo ka-passionate, huhulaan ko kung bakit ganito kataaas ang inyong energy. Ang akin pong paniniwala, pareho ko, naniniwala din kayo kung gaano kaimportante itong darating na eleksyon para sa ating lahat (I will guess why you are this passionate, I will guess why your energy is this high. My belief is that, the same with me, you believe how important the coming election is for all us),” she added.
The Vice President believes this coming polls is different because it is a people’s movement.
“Pero ngayon po, ang pinaglalaban natin isang klaseng pamamahala at pulitika na kakaiba na. Pagkakataon na po ang eleksyon na to na ibahin natin yung takbo ng ating pulitika (But now, we are fighting for a kind of government and politics that is different. This elections is a chance for us to change the course of our politics),” Robredo said.
She highlighted the importance of her campaign slogan, “Gobyernong Tapat, Angat Buhay Lahat (Honest Government, a Better Life for All),” saying that the government’s integrity can lead to better opportunities.
“Napatunayan po natin sa OVP...Marami po kaming pangangailangan na natutugunan dahil malinis at matapat yung aming pamamahala. Pag malinis yung pamamahala, ‘yung pera napupunta sa pinakanangangailangan (We proved that in the OVP ...A lot of things that we need have been provided for because of our clean and honest governance),” Robredo said.
While her campaign has no resources and machinery, the Vice President expressed confidence the people’s passion will power them through.
Before her campaign rally, Robredo also met with Tabang Sikad drivers and members of the inter-faith groups in the city.