Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo has sealed major endorsements from key political figures in Surigao del Norte a week before the May 9 elections.
Robredo’s presidential bid received another boost after she was endorsed by Surigao del Norte Gov. Francisco "Lalo" Matugas and other local officials of the province.
Matugas and his wife, former Gov. Sol Matugas, declared their support for Robredo during the visit of her eldest daughter, Aika, in Siargao Island to conduct a house-to-house campaign on Sunday, May 1.
“We fully support the candidacy of Vice President Robredo. Siya lang ang kandidatong akma bilang pangulo (She is the only candidate fit as president),” Matugas said in a speech.
Showing their support for Robredo, the governor, along with several provincial board members and mayors, signed a pink surfboard.
The local officials of Surigao del Sur also also held a candle-lighting ceremony as they prayed for Robredo’s victory in the May 9 elections.
Meanwhile, Siargao-based group, called Nuevo Campo Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (NUCARBECO), also endorsed the candidacy of Robredo when they met with Aika.
Alejandro Balaba, NUCARBECO chairman, read the group’s manifesto of support, which declared that the Vice President is the only worthy candidate to lead the country.
“We will support Robredo as the president of the Republic of the Philippines,” he said.
Aika accepted the endorsements on behalf of her mother.
As elections draw near, Robredo’s eldest daughter went to Siargao to personally campaign for the Vice President. She was joined by actresses Mylene Dizon and Melai Cantiveros.
Aika informed residents about the Vice President's track record, accomplishments, and programs.
"Ngayong darating na halalan mas maging mapili tayo sa pagpili ng mga susunod na lider ng bansa natin, dahil sa ating lahat nakasalalay ang kinabukasan ng bansa natin (In the coming elections, let us be more choosy in selecting our next leaders, because the future of our country depends on all of us),” Aika said.
“Kaya huwag tayong matakot na lumabas at bumuto para sa lider na mangunguna sa gobyernong mag-aangat sa buhay nating lahat (Don’t be afraid to come out and vote for a leader who will lead the government that will uplift the lives of everyone)," she added.
During the house-to-house campaign, Dizon and Cantiveros also talked to some supporters of other presidential bets in the hopes they would shift to Robredo.
Actress Nadine Lustre, another celebrity supporter of Robredo, was also seen campaigning in Siargao.