Aspiring president Vice President Leni Robredo did not win in Zamboanga del Sur in 2016 but her supporters in the province vowed it will not be the case come May.
"Alam n'yo po gulat na gulat ako dahil alam n'yo po nung 2016, while nanalo po ako sa halos lahat na lugar dito sa Zamboanga Peninsula, dito sa Zambo Sur, natalo ako (You know I was very surprised because in 2016, while I win in almost all places in Zamboanga Peninsula, I did not win here in Zamboanga del Sur)," Robredo said as she opened her speech before the crowd of pink-clad supporters in Plaza Luz in Pagadian City Friday, March 18.
This prompted the crowd to scream in unison their support to the Vice President, ensuring her that she got their back in the upcoming elections.
"Babawi kami! Babawi kami (We will make it up to you)!" the crowd chanted multiple times, rendering Robredo speechless.
The aspiring president, whose visit to Pagadian City was a last-minute decision, admitted to the locals that she was doubting whether people would welcome her in Zamboanga del Sur, considering that she lost in the province during the previous elections.
"Kaya nung nagpaplano kami ng mga pupuntahan dito, hindi po ako kampante. Iniisip ko, 'pag pumunta kaya kami sa Zambo Sur, sa Pagadian, meron kayang sumalubong sa amin? Kaya po ngayong umaga, ginulat n'yo po ako (When we were planning, I was not confident. I was thinking if we will be welcomed here. This is why this morning, you surprised me)," Robredo said.
During her speech, the Vice President assured the locals that if elected, she will not hold grudges over not winning in certain places and allow that to influence her decisions as a leader.
She committed to deliver the goods in places that needed help, regardless of the votes given to her, replicating the kind of public service she upheld as a Vice President.
"Pagkatapos ng eleksyon nung 2016, kinalimutan ko na po ang politika. Sinet aside ko na, sino bang tumulong, sino bang hindi, saan ba ako nanalo, saan ba ako hindi. Ang aking desisyon bilang Vice President at bilang public servant, dapat hindi ko tinitingnan yung politika nung ako ay nakaupo na (After the elections in 2016, I set aside politics, who helped, who did not, where I won, where I did not. My decision as a Vice President and as a public servant should not be influenced by politics when I was already in the position)," Robredo said.
Like in all places she has visited, Robredo also urged supporters in the city to encourage more people to join her in her bid.
Pagadian City was the last stop of Robredo's four-day Mindanao barnstorm that brought her around Central Mindanao, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and the Zamboanga Peninsula.