Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda shared on Facebook Wednesday morning, May 11 details of his phone conversation with opposition standard-bearer Vice president Leni Robredo, who is staring a 16-million vote deficit against presidential race frontrunner Bongbong Marcos.
Salceda, a Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) stalwart, had supported Robredo's Palace bid in the just-concluded May 9 polls. But now, the writing is on the wall.
"Nagusap kami (We spoke) about the national results. In essence, I explained that we were up against a restoration effort that was ongoing since 1992. And a low intensity yet pervasive social marketing since 2010," Salceda said of his conversation with Robredo, which took place Tuesday, May 10.
"We belatedly saw the power of the crowds in April in Malolos and Gen Trias. Thus the 16M na lamang (vote lead by Marcos). She understood my analysis. But she also knows her duty to her supporters, many of whom were heavily emotionally invested in her," the solon said of his fellow Bicolano.
"Pakalmahin ko muna high emotions (I'll wait for the high emotions to calm down first),” Salceda quoted the lady official as saying.
"Sabi ko (I said) take your time, may important role ka (you have an important role) in building the nation," he replied.
Salceda further said in his post that while he believes Robredo would have been best suited for the job since "foreign investors trusted her", Marcos's impressive mandate could still be turned into a positive.
"BBM’s 56 is the highest mandate in 53 years and can also be mobilised for smart policies to offset foreign investors’ concerns about him and his father’s rule," said the House member, who won reelection in the polls.
"Leni came out of our conversation to be humble to the bones with only the nation’s interest is in her heart. Kalmado siya (She was calm), not one iota of regret, enmity, or resentment. There is no doubt that she is guided by one moral compass- her duty to the nation. But given her supreme moral standing, it was not for me to even suggest a concession," Salceda wrote.
The solon had earlier vowed that he would help the winning presidential candidate solve the country’s fiscal and economic woes, whoever he or she may turn out to be.