Former vice president Leni Robredo

PILI, Camarines Sur--Members of the Alansya para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate expressed confidence Friday, March 7 that they would fare well here in the May polls despite the Bicol region's reputation as "Leni Robredo country".

For former Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Benhur Abalos, and ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo all had their reasons as to why the administration bets would do just fine here in the province and the rest of Bicolandia.

Robredo, who served as the country’s vice president from 2016 to 2022, hails from Naga City here.

She was the main rival of President Marcos during the 2022 presidential race, and won big in Bicol during that time. Marcos is the main endorser of 12-person Alyansa line-up.

"Iba yung sinasabi ng survey ngayon eh (The surveys are saying something else now)," Sotto said in press conference here when asked about Alyansa's chances in the Liberal Party (LP) stalwart's bailiwick.

"The surveys now and in the last few days is a snapshot of that day. It could not say that it could be the result on May 12, or it's the same result in 2022. So iba (So it's different)," he said.

"Pero ang nakikita namin, ang nakakarating samin na survey, maayos ang stand ng administration candidates dito (But based on what we're seeing, based on the surveys reaching us, the administration candidates have good standing here)," Sotto said.

For Abalos, the important thing is to observe respect, especially on each other's opinion.  

"Sa nangyayari ngayon, it's different issues. Iba yung issues noon, iba yung issues ngayon. Nakita niyo po yung latag ng programa ng grupo (Right now we're talking different issues. The issues then are different from the issues now. You've seen the group's proposed programs)," he said.

"And I so hope na lahat po ng taga dito sa Bicol, sa buong Pilipinas, ito po yung susuri maigi (And I so hope everyone here in Bicol and in the entire Philippines would get to scrutinize then carefully)," he said.

"So in that sense I'm very confident that the people will appreciate out platforms and our programs," underscored Abalos.

Tulfo said that as politicians, one should never be basied against a particular region, unless they want reprisal from local residents when it's time to fill out the ballots.

"Pinabayaan mo kami, bakit ikaw bobotohin namin? Common sense di ba? (You neglected us, so why would we vote for you? Common sense right?)" the former broadcaster said in the same press conference.  

"So that's what I've been telling you guys kanina pa (earlier), do not look at the political color of that area. Because pag tinignan mo, kasi dilawan yan, pinklawan yan, yari ka. 'Wag nating tulungan yan, kasi kay ganito yan, kasi kay ganun'--No!"

('Because if you look at it as dilawan, or pinklawan, you're history. Let's not help them because they're allies of this and that'--No!)

"All the more that you have to help to show them na Pilipino ito. What's the difference? Bicolanos are Filipinos too, di ba (right)? It is what it is eh," Tulfo explained.