A local official and multi-sectoral group of Oriental Mindoro on Thursday, March 3, assured Vice President Leni Robredo of a win come May 2022 presidential polls, describing her as a “symbol of goodness” and a “great woman.”

Oriental Mindoro First District Rep. Paulino Salvador “Doy” Leachon welcomed Robredo and running mate Sen. Kiko Pangilinan at the People’s Rally in Calapan.

“I would just like to tell you mananalo ka dito sa (you are going to win here in) Mindoro, Ma’am,” Leachon told Robredo as he introduced her on stage.

Robredo won in Oriental Mindoro during the 2016 vice presidential race, topping it with 134,843 votes, while her closest contenders, former Senators Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Chiz Escudero, received only 72,092 and 69,509, respectively.

“Sabi ko naman malakas ka dito sa Mindoro, ito andami (I already said you are strong here in Mindoro, this is a lot),” Leachon said, pointing to the crowd of pink-clad supporters waving pink ribbons, balloons, and witty placards.

He described Robredo as a “personal friend,” someone who is a “good person” and “great woman.”

The lawmaker recalled the Vice President was his neighbor at the House of Representatives since only a wall separated their offices when she was still congresswoman of Camarines Sur.

Capt. Lemuel Gahol, who is representing multi-sectoral groups such as farmers, fishermen, and women, among others, expressed trust in Robredo because, like her, they also believe in “radical love.”

Calling the Robredo-Pangilinan “TRoPa ng Pagasa (of hope),” he added that Robredo is a “symbol of goodness” that will happen in the country.

“Kaya ang hinihiling namin kapag kayo na ang nakaupong pangulo na suportahan ang Mindoro bilang lugar sa agrikultura, ecotourism, biodiversity conservation. Ayaw po namin sa minahan (What we are asking is if you become president for you to support Mindoro as a place of agriculture, ecotourism, biodiversity conservation. We do not like mining),” Gahol said.

He asked her to address the impact of the Rice Tariffication Law on farmers since Mindoro is the “main supplier of rice and other agriculture products” and the privatization and monopoly of public services such as water and port services to favor big businesses.

READ: Mindoro shows off youth power for Leni-Kiko tandem

For her part, Robredo promised to listen to the stakeholders since she believes in participatory leadership and consultative governance.

Her main goal is to have a clean and honest government. Her campaign slogan, "Gobyernong Tapat, Angat Buhay Lahat (Honest Government, Better Life For All)," aims for a corrupt-free administration.

She promised inclusive governance in which ordinary people would have a voice and be heard.

“Ayaw nyo ng pagmimina, ayaw nyo ng ibang mga bagay na tingin nyo makakasira sa inyo, pinapangako po namin na ganun ang pamahalaan. Magbibigay po kami ng espasyo para sa lahat na maging bahagi ng aming pamamahala (You don’t like mining, you don’t like things that will destroy you, we promise you that the government will be like that. We are going to give spaces so you can be all part of our governance),” she said.

Robredo told the audience the change they seek is within their grasp and that they must carefully select the candidate they choose to put in power.

“Isang pamamahala na hindi lider ‘yung nagdidikta pero isang pamamahala na matapat, mga lingkod bayan na mga matitino at mahuhusay, pamahalaang nakikinig (A kind of governance where the leader does not impose but a governance that is honest, servant leaders who are honest and excellent, a government that will listen),” she said.

The Vice President worked with a private foundation to bring solar kits to barangays Misong and Tagumpay in Oriental Mindoro to bring light to these remote communities.

She also initiated a medical mission in partnership with Oriental Mindoro Rep. Alfonso Umali to give free medicine and medical check-ups to different communities in Oriental Mindoro.

Aside from Robredo and Pangilinan, some of their senatorial candidates were also in the Oriental Mindoro sortie, namely lawyers Alex Lacson and Sonny Matula, former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr., and reelectionist Senator Richard Gordon.