Robredo believes Otso Diretso candidates have enough time to catch up
By AJ Siytangco
Published Feb 07, 2019 17:55 pm
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Updated Feb 07, 2019 17:55 pm
By Raymund Antonio
Ahead of the campaign period for the May 13 polls, Vice President Leni Robredo is not worried by the low survey ranking of “Otso Diretso” senatorial candidates.
Vice President Leni Robredo
(Photo by OVP / MANILA BULLETIN) For Robredo, the opposition Senate bets still have time to introduce themselves to voters and turn their dismal ratings into victory on election day. “Iyong mga survey, parang gabay—gabay kung saan ka mas hindi pa kilala, gabay kung paano mo gagawin iyong iyong kampanya,” she said after the Ahon Laylayan covenant signing held in Quezon City. (The surveys serve as a guide—it’s a guide for you where you’re not yet known and what would you do in your campaign.) The Vice President remained hopeful the Otso Diretso candidates will repeat her victory in the 2016 elections. Running under the opposition slate are former senator Mar Roxas II, incumbent Senator Bam Aquino, lawyers Chel Diokno, Florin Hilbay, Erin Tañada and Romulo Macalintal, Maranao civic leader Samira Gutoc, and Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano. Of the eight candidates, only Roxas and Aquino have a statistical chance of winning based on the latest surveys. Robredo recalled when she ran for vice president, many people thought her candidacy was hopeless because she was lagging behind in surveys. Her voters’ preference rating climbed as more voters got to know her during the campaign period. “Naaalala ko, nakahabol ako mag-e-April na. Ngayon, ano pa lang naman, kapapasok pa lang ng February, marami pang oras para magpakilala,” the opposition leader said. (I remember I was able to catch up when it was almost April. Now we just entered February, they still have plenty of time to become known.) The Vice President attended the covenant signing of the Ahon Laylayan Coalition with Otso Diretso candidates held at the UP Bahay ng Alumni for the People’s Legislative Agenda. The event gathered the youth, senior citizens, fisherfolk, farmers, indigenous peoples, and other members of the marginalized sector, aimed at fighting Charter Change and human rights violations. Joining them were opposition senatorial candidates except for Roxas, who was represented by then social welfare secretary Dinky Soliman in the event. They signed the manifesto to push for legislative measures such as passage the Anti-Dynasty Bill, People Empowerment Bill, National Land Use Bill, and Security of Tenure Bill, among others. Robredo spoke before the crowd, urging them to choose the right candidates who will truly represent them in the Senate. “Kaya ito pong 2019 elections, sana hindi po hindi tayo magpadala sa pera. Sana hindi tayo magpadala sa palakihan ng tarpaulin. Sana po hindi tayo magpadala sa pagandahan ng mga campaign materials,” she said. (In the 2019 elections, I hope we will not be influenced by money, huge tarpaulin and fancy campaign materials.) The Vice President told her audience that there are candidates who only show their support for the poor during the campaign period. “Kapag eleksyon, lahat na kandidato, mabait sa atin. Kapag eleksyon, marami ang nagsasabing, ‘Mahal ko ang mahihirap…’ Pero iyong tanong ko: Nasaan ba sila noong wala pang eleksyon?” she said. (During elections, all candidates are nice to us. They all say, “I love the poor”…but my question is: where are they before the elections?)
Vice President Leni Robredo(Photo by OVP / MANILA BULLETIN) For Robredo, the opposition Senate bets still have time to introduce themselves to voters and turn their dismal ratings into victory on election day. “Iyong mga survey, parang gabay—gabay kung saan ka mas hindi pa kilala, gabay kung paano mo gagawin iyong iyong kampanya,” she said after the Ahon Laylayan covenant signing held in Quezon City. (The surveys serve as a guide—it’s a guide for you where you’re not yet known and what would you do in your campaign.) The Vice President remained hopeful the Otso Diretso candidates will repeat her victory in the 2016 elections. Running under the opposition slate are former senator Mar Roxas II, incumbent Senator Bam Aquino, lawyers Chel Diokno, Florin Hilbay, Erin Tañada and Romulo Macalintal, Maranao civic leader Samira Gutoc, and Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano. Of the eight candidates, only Roxas and Aquino have a statistical chance of winning based on the latest surveys. Robredo recalled when she ran for vice president, many people thought her candidacy was hopeless because she was lagging behind in surveys. Her voters’ preference rating climbed as more voters got to know her during the campaign period. “Naaalala ko, nakahabol ako mag-e-April na. Ngayon, ano pa lang naman, kapapasok pa lang ng February, marami pang oras para magpakilala,” the opposition leader said. (I remember I was able to catch up when it was almost April. Now we just entered February, they still have plenty of time to become known.) The Vice President attended the covenant signing of the Ahon Laylayan Coalition with Otso Diretso candidates held at the UP Bahay ng Alumni for the People’s Legislative Agenda. The event gathered the youth, senior citizens, fisherfolk, farmers, indigenous peoples, and other members of the marginalized sector, aimed at fighting Charter Change and human rights violations. Joining them were opposition senatorial candidates except for Roxas, who was represented by then social welfare secretary Dinky Soliman in the event. They signed the manifesto to push for legislative measures such as passage the Anti-Dynasty Bill, People Empowerment Bill, National Land Use Bill, and Security of Tenure Bill, among others. Robredo spoke before the crowd, urging them to choose the right candidates who will truly represent them in the Senate. “Kaya ito pong 2019 elections, sana hindi po hindi tayo magpadala sa pera. Sana hindi tayo magpadala sa palakihan ng tarpaulin. Sana po hindi tayo magpadala sa pagandahan ng mga campaign materials,” she said. (In the 2019 elections, I hope we will not be influenced by money, huge tarpaulin and fancy campaign materials.) The Vice President told her audience that there are candidates who only show their support for the poor during the campaign period. “Kapag eleksyon, lahat na kandidato, mabait sa atin. Kapag eleksyon, marami ang nagsasabing, ‘Mahal ko ang mahihirap…’ Pero iyong tanong ko: Nasaan ba sila noong wala pang eleksyon?” she said. (During elections, all candidates are nice to us. They all say, “I love the poor”…but my question is: where are they before the elections?)