Vice presidential candidate and Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza on Friday, April 8 said that Filipinos don't expect anything from aspiring president Vice President Leni Robredo if she wins in the May 9 polls.
Atienza said the name Leni Robredo only evokes an image of a "good person", but not any promise for the people.
"'Pag iboboto mo si Leni Robredo, ano ang pangako ng pangalang yun? Meron ba kayong naiisip? (If you vote for Leni Robredo, what is the promise that comes from that name? Have you thought of anything?)" he asked during the Pandesal Forum.
"Sasabihin n'yo, 'hindi, mabuting tao yan eh.' Susunod sa tamang gawain yan, hindi 'yun (You will say: 'No, she's a good person. She will do the right thing. But that's not the point)," he said, adding "Campaign promises are made based on the good things that a person has done."
That was the reason why Atienza did not back Robredo, he added.
Meanwhile, Atienza said the name Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the frontrunning presidential candidate, is a different case altogether. 8
"'Pag binoto mo si Marcos, dapat alam mo kung ano ang mangyayari. Sangkatutak na nakawan nanaman ang mangyayari sa gobyerno (If you vote for Marcos, you'll know what happen: Massive robbery in the government)," he claimed.
For Ping Lacson, Atienza believed he has his own "priority". It might be to continue his presidential bid or not.
"Let's wait for Ping, in his own time, in his own conscience and in his own volition and decision he has to decide on this," he said.
These are all the reasons why the lawmaker made Senator Manny Pacquiao his "horse" in the Palace race.
Atienza said he partnered with Pacquiao in the elections because he believed that the "poorest of the poor Filipinos" will have their own homes if the latter wins.
As he expressed interest in backing out of the vice presidential race to support his fellow bet, Senator Tito Sotto, Atienza underscored his belief that only Pacquiao and Sotto can achieve something positive in the top two highest posts in the land.
"Si Sotto mananalo, pero ang presidente nya ay sino dyan, wala ring pagbabago, wala ring reporma, wala ring benepisyo para sa mga naghihirap na Pilipino (If Sotto wins but ends up working with another candidate, there will still be no change, no reform, and no benefits for the poor)," he said.
"To me Pacquiao has to win, Sotto has to win," he added.