PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur (MindaNews / 06 May) – Vice President Leni Robredo ended her campaign in Mindanao with a grand rally attended by thousands of supporters at Naliyagan grounds of the provincial capitol compound in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur Thursday night.
Several of her supporters were driven here by buses and trucks from neighboring towns, ending their blistering house-to-house drive to help Robredo thwart another Marcos from capturing the presidency on May 9.
Robredo’s closest rival is former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son and namesake of the late president who ruled the country for 21 years, 14 years of which were under martial law, a period marked by widespread human rights abuses.
In her speech, Robredo thanked Agusan del Sur voters for her overwhelming victory in the 2016 elections. Both she and former Local Government secretary Mar Roxas won in the province.
“Your trust in me did not go in vain since I worked hard to serve you,” she said.
She assured that if she wins as president, she will serve the Filipino regardless of political color.
Many sweated for four hours as they waited for Robredo who came from Cagayan de Oro where she met 12 Bukidnon town mayors who switched to her side.
Her campaign attracted politicians notably Agusan del Sur’s political kingpin Rep. Adolph Edward “Eddiebong” Plaza (2nd District) and Governor Santiago “Santi” Cane Jr.
Plaza, whose late parents also served as provincial governors, said he decided to support Robredo after the Holy Week after seeing no other candidates could match her qualifications.
“She is a lawyer, economist and a development worker. Qualities we need for the next presidency,” he said.
“Even if you don’t vote for me please make sure that you will vote for VP Leni,” Plaza, who is seeking reelection, told the crowd, adding the vice president is the most qualified among the candidates to run the country.
Plaza’s partner, Maribel Mijares, who is active in Robredo’s campaign urged voters to raise the barometer in choosing a leader.
She cited the academic achievements of the vice president and her daughters, her dedication to work specially at the height of the pandemic despite a small budget, and a very good track record in transparency in governance.
Local political observers believed it was Mijares who influenced Team Eddiebong leaders to go for Robredo.
Aside from Plaza and Cane, all the other incumbent elective officials of Agusan del Sur’s 13 towns and lone component city are reportedly supporting Robredo’s presidential bid.
Cane said a crowd of 20,000 occupied the 1.5-kilometer, four-lane road from the provincial capitol to Datu Lipus Makapandong Cultural Center where a stage and huge tent were set up.
But Robredo’s campaign media bureau posted on Facebook that the crowd reached around 70,000.
Giant TV screens were also set up around the capitol grounds and along the highway for people to watch.
The grand rally dubbed “Liyag Para Kay Leni” (Love for Leni), which was also supposed to endorse vice presidential bet Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, was organized entirely for Robredo with her pink posters all over the capitol grounds and stage in pink color.
Only a handful of Duterte followers wearing green T-shirts could be seen amid a sea of pink-clad Robredo supporters.
Plaza and Cane said they support the RoSa (Robredo-Sara) tandem but Thursday’s rally was for Robredo.
Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel also declared his support to Robredo and Duterte.
Signing their endorsement on a pink surfboard, Surigao del Norte Gov. Francisco Matugas, his wife, Sol, and other town mayors also endorsed Robredo and Duterte. (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews with a report from Chris V. Panganiban)
