Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday, March 8, said that volunteers and supporters who go out of their way to attend sorties and spend their own money on campaign paraphernalia serve as an inspiration in the grinding campaign season.
The Vice President maintained that her supporters are not paid to attend her rallies, some of which drew more than 47,000 people.
“Pero pag tinitignan ko po ngayon, grabeng pag-asa at inspirasyon 'yung nararamdaman ko (But when I look at you now, I feel so much hope and inspiration),” she told the crowd during the multi-sectoral rally held at the Provincial Sports Complex in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur.
“Hindi lang po sa alam ko na hindi kayo bayad, pero alam ko, tignan niyo 'yung mga t-shirt niyo, kanya-kanya. Iba't ibang shade ng pink, iba-ibang imprenta, kanya-kanyang gastos (It’s not only that I know you are not paid, but I know, look at your t-shirts, they’re unique. Different shades of pink, different prints, your own expense),” Robredo added.
Her remarks came after House Deputy Speaker Boying Remulla insinuated that some 47,000 people who attended the rally at the General Trias Sports Park in his home province of Cavite were paid P500 each.
The Robredo People’s Council, led by Cavite Board Member Kerby Javier Salazar, the organizer of the rally, disputed the allegations and lamented that someone he looked up to would insinuate such things.
Robredo’s camp also denied claims that they engage in “hakot” system, or the practice of paying people to attend campaign rallies.
The Vice President added that it’s not just the t-shirts that her supporters were spending money on, but also the various handmade placards that she would often read in her rallies.
In Surigao City, Robredo addressed again the allegations of her supporters being paid by reading one of the placards which said: “We are not in the business of getting paid.”
The aspiring president then asked the audience if someone from them got paid to come.
In response, the enthusiastic crowd chanted: “Hindi kami bayad! (We are not paid!) Hindi kami bayad! (We are not paid!).”
She observed that more than half of her audience were the youth, reminding them to make their first votes count by voting for the right candidates.
READ: In Surigao, Robredo tells youth voters: ‘It’s your time’
Robredo gave the young supporters their assignment to convert their parents who are supporters of her closest rival former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to vote for her and her slate.
“Kaya ito po 'yung challenge ko sa mga kabataan na nandito: Ang kinabukasan ninyo nasa kamay ninyo. Wala po sa kamay naming mga lingkod-bayan. Pag kami po hinalal ninyo, ang aming aasahan sa inyo ay babantayan niyo kami na pag kami po nagkamali, hindi kayo matatakot punahin kami (This is my challenge to all the youth here: the future is in your hands. It is not in the hands of the public servants. If you elect us, what we expect from you is to hold us accountable if we do wrong, you will not be scared to call us out),” she said.
“Dahil kung ayaw na po naming makinig sa puna, pareho na lang kami noong ating mga ayaw na klase ng politiko. Kaya 'yung amin pong kahilingan sa inyo tulong, hindi lang ngayong kampanya, pero pag nakaupo na kami pag kami tinulungan sana kabahagi pa din kayo ng aming pamamahala (Because if we don’t like to listen to your criticisms, we are just the same as the politicians we don’t like. That’s why the help we’re asking from you, not only during the campaign, but once we’re seated if you help us, we hope you are still a part of our governance),” she added.
As the lone female presidential bet, Robredo’s visit to the region included a celebration of National Women’s Month with a Women's Summit at the Surigao del Norte Provincial Convention Center, where she delivered a keynote speech.
On Wednesday, March 9, Robredo is scheduled to visit a community in Brgy. Danawan in Surigao del Norte that has benefited from the OVP’s Angat Buhay Sustainable Livelihood Training (AB SLT). She will also make stops in Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur.