Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando on Monday, March 14, formally endorsed the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo, who he described as a woman who can “lead” the country.
"Let a woman lead. Let Leni lead,” the governor said, as he chose to support Robredo, the lone female candidate among the 10 presidential hopefuls.
Robredo, for her part, was grateful to Fernando’s endorsement, describing it as an “exclamation point” to all their efforts and hard work.
The endorsement is seen to boost Robredo’s chances to win the presidency in the May 2022 elections because Bulacan, as the fifth most vote-rich province, has more than two million voters.
In 2016, Robredo lost to former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the province by 190,000 votes.
“Walang bahid ng korapsyon, may matatag na pananampalataya sa ating Panginoong Diyos na siyang magdadala sa atin sa isang maunlad, mapayapa at kulay rosas na bukas (There is no whiff of corruption, with strong faith in our Lord who will carry us to a prosperous, peaceful, and rose-colored tomorrow),” Fernando said, quoting Robredo’s campaign slogan of “Kulay Rosas Ang Bukas (Our future is rosy)” as symbolized by her campaign color of pink.
The joint press conference of Fernando and Robredo was held at the Giron Hall of the historic Barasoain Church in Malolos City, Bulacan.
“Nasa kanya ang puso, talino, katatagan na maiangat ang pamumuhay ng bawat Pilipino (She has the heart, intelligence, firmness to uplift the lives of each Filipino),” he furthered.
Fernando clarified that Bulakenyos are free to choose their presidential candidate, and that he will not impose his endorsement of Robredo on them. Rather, it is a “personal choice” he made after praying for it and attending the novena for nine days.
He commended the Vice President for her work during the pandemic and different calamities, saying that she served as the “mother of the nation” and an “honest” public official who remained accountable as a leader.
“Sabi ko ibang klaseng tao ito (I said, this person is extraordinary),” Fernando said of Robredo, who he knew to have regularly taken the bus from her hometown of Bicol to Manila when she was still a representative of the third district of Camarines Sur.
Fernando also denied the press release of the Marcos camp that he was yet to endorse any presidential candidate.
“I was misquoted. Wala po akong sinasabi na hindi o ayaw. Wala pong ganun (I didn’t say no or I don’t like. There’s nothing like that),” he said.
The Marcos camp earlier released a press statement saying that Fernando will still discuss with his party, the National Unity Party (NUP), who to endorse for the presidency.
This was after a news report said the Bulacan governor endorsed Robredo when he called her “president” during the March 5 sortie in Bulacan that drew a massive crowd of 45,000 supporters.
READ: The battle is on: 45,000 supporters pack Robredo’s grand rally in Bulacan
Robredo said it was “very symbolic” for the governor to endorse her because it wasn’t easy for him to do so since she has a long way to go before beating the lopsided presidential preference survey results that put her a far second to Marcos.
“Pagpapakita ito ng lingkod bayan na hindi tinitingnan ano makakabuti sa sarili nya pero ang tinitingnan ano ba ang makakabuti para sa ating bayan. Dahil pwede naman po na hindi mag-endorse si Gov. Daniel. Pwede naman na lumaro na lang sa iba’t ibang kandidato (This shows a public servant who does not look at what’s good for himself but looks at what’s good for our country. Because Gov. Daniel could choose not to endorse. He can play safe with different candidates),” Robredo explained during the media briefing.
She recalled that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) always had an easy time working with the Bulacan provincial government because Fernando was always willing to help her out in her Angat Buhay projects in the province.