SAN FERNANDO, La Union—With less than a month before Election Day, Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday, April 12, said that the endorsements from other camps are “crucial” to a possible win on May 9.

In an interview after her campaign sortie in San Fernando, La Union, the lone female presidential candidate expressed hope that she will soon meet with those who decided to switch to her side to thank them in person.

“Very crucial iyong pagpili sa atin ng mga supporters na galing sa ibang (the choosing of us of supporters from other) . . . whether from one candidate, from all the other candidates, crucial iyon kasi papalapit nang papalapit sa eleksyon lahat na makakadagdag sa atin (because the election is getting nearer and nearer all that will boost us) welcome parati (always),” she said.

Her statement came after IM Pilipinas, a volunteer group of presidential candidate Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, switched its support to her.

Ikaw Muna (IM) Pilipinas, led by former Transportation Undersecretary Tim Orbos, held a press conference to announce their defection to Robredo.

The group also changed its name to “IM Leni” and used the hashtag “#AngTagumpayAyMaramingKulay (victory has many colors).”

Robredo’s spokesman Barry Gutierrez and opposition coalition 1Sambayan also expressed hope that more groups and personalities will join their campaign.

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa tiwala at suporta ng IM Leni. Sang-ayon kami sa kanilang panawagan para sa pagkakaisa; at malaking karangalan na pinili nilang makiisa sa laban ni (We thank IM Leni for the trust and support. We agree with their call for unity; and it is a big honor that they chose to be one in the fight of) VP Leni,” Gutierrez said in a statement.

“We expect more to join us in the coming days leading up to the May 9 elections. If the recent survey results and massive attendance to her rallies were any indication, then our pambato VP Leni is poised for victory,” 1Sambayan added in a separate statement.

The group called on candidates to join together and stand for “one country, one nation.”

Quoting the Vice President, Gutierrez said that people’s strength is born out of uniting in the name of hope.

“And we believe that this coming together in shared hope, regardless of the colors we choose to wear, is what will bring victory, not just for a particular candidate on election day, but for the Filipino people over the next six years,” he added.

Gutierrez expects that “more” will join Robredo’s campaign in the remaining 27 days until Election Day as people are “united by their dreams, and hopes, for a better Philippines.”

Earlier, two regional factions—Visayas and Zamboanga chapters—of IM Pilipinas already jumped ship to Robredo.

READ: Mayor Isko says he was not hurt when volunteers shifted loyalties to VP Leni

The volunteer group, one of the first to urge Moreno to run for president, has around 200,000 members nationwide.

The group’s withdrawal of support from Moreno is a big blow to the Manila mayor, who is trailing behind Robredo in the presidential preference survey.

He has eight percent in the latest Pulse Asia survey while Robredo jumped from 15 percent in February to 24 percent in March.

Though still lagging Marcos’ numbers at 56 percent, the Vice President’s camp believes her numbers will increase further after endorsements from several personalities and political groups.

Her massive rallies, which drew tens of thousands, are also seen to bolster her campaign.