Vice President Leni Robredo. OVP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Otso Diretso is worth fighting for.
This was the statement of Liberal Party (LP) chairman Vice President Leni Robredo, as she described that the defeat of the opposition senatorial slate Otso Diretso in the midterm polls as “not a total loss.”
“Hindi ko siya nire-regard na total loss kasi if at all, we were able to unite many forces na dati hindi united,” Robredo told reporters at the sidelines of the Pag-asa Film Festival 2019 in Quezon City on Saturday.
“So it is worth fighting for, still; hindi lang for the elections, pero for many other issues that will face us,” Robredo added.
Based on the final and official tally of the Commission on Elections, none from the eight candidates of the opposition managed to enter the Magic 12.
Graduating senator and opposition bet Bam Aquino was the only one who came close to the winning circle, ending at the 14th spot of the race.
READ: Final, official count: Villar 1st, Binay 12th in Senate race
According to Robredo, the defeat of the Otso Diretso bets in the midterm polls could not be blamed on Senator Francis Pangilinan and Quezon City Representative Christopher “Kit” Belmonte, who earlier quit as the LP’s president and secretary general respectively.
Robredo said that the move of both Pangilinan and Belmonte was a “very noble way of accepting responsibility” for the outcome of the elections.
“Hindi nila kasalanan. Hindi nila kasalanan. Puwedeng maraming pagkukulang, pero hindi siya kasalanan noong dalawa. Ano iyon, very noble way of accepting responsibility,” Robredo said.
“Sinabi ko din sa kanila na kung ako lang magdedesisyon, hindi ko siya tatanggapin. Kasi ito iyong panahon na kailangan mas magkaisa kami, at marami pang laban na haharapin,” she added.
She also said that an informal gathering with the party regarding the resignation of Pangilinan and Belmonte happened last week.
“Parang iyong sentiment ng halos lahat na members, huwag payagang mag-resign. Iyong sa kaniya kasi, hindi naman niya sinasabi na ayaw niya ng posisyon. Ang sinasabi niya lang, ina-accept niya iyong responsibility doon sa pagkatalo ng Otso Diretso,” Robredo added.
Pangilinan and Belmonte filed their resignation as acts of “courtesy” on the aftermath of the election.
READ: Kiko Pangilinan quits as LP president
Robredo however rejected the resignation of the two LP members. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)
READ: Robredo rejects resignation of key LP officials