COLOR-COORDINATED Around 400 bikers in Iloilo City show up on Saturday for their version of the “people’s caravan” for Vice President Leni Robredo and her bid to be the country’s next leader in the May 2022 elections. —ARNOLD ALMACEN/ILOILO CITY MAYOR’S OFFICE
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo said she was shocked by the overwhelming people’s campaign and the local executives who expressed support for her.
On Saturday, “kakampinks” — the nickname of Robredo’s supporters — held motorcades in 25 cities and provinces across the country in support of Robredo.
“Actually, sobrang nagulat kami kahapon. Kasi akala ko hindi gano’n kalaki kasi ‘di ba before nung kahapon, ang dami nang mga iba-ibang lugar na hiwa-hiwalay gumagawa na rin ng kanilang caravan at successful din. So, iniisip ko kasi nagawa na nung iba baka kaunti na lang ‘yung mag-participate nung kahapon. Pero nagulat kami kasi from north to south talaga ‘yung nag-participate,” Robredo said during the BISErbisyong LENI program on DZXL on Sunday.
(Actually, we were so shocked yesterday. I did not expect that it would be that big because before yesterday, many people from different areas were conducting caravans which were also successful. But, we were shocked because from north to south, people participated.)
“Ito ‘yung kagandahan na lumalabas nagiging people’s movement siya. Hindi ‘to traditional na campaigning,” she said.
(This is what is good, it shows that it becomes a people’s movement. This is not traditional campaigning.)
The vice president expressed appreciation to the individuals who participated in the campaign.
“Sobrang pasalamat po ako na parang ‘yung wholehearted masyado ‘yung support. Walang hinihingi,” she noted.
(I am very thankful because of the wholehearted support. Nothing in exchange was asked.)
Robredo likewise was shocked with the unexpected declaration of support of local executives to include Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno.
“Actually, nagulat ako kasi — ‘di ba nasabi ko na ‘to na — wala kaming inaasahan na may local official na parang will come out in the open to support us dahil sa political climate natin pero ang dami,” the vice president said.
(Actually, I am shocked — as I said before — we are not expecting local officials who will come out in the open to support us because of our political climate but there are many that did.)
“Mayroon ding iba na nagsu-support pero quiet lang. Pero nagugulat kami do’n sa sobrang open,” Robredo added.
(Others also showed support but did so quietly. We are shocked by those who are very open.)