FILE PHOTO: Senator Kiko Pangilinan (left) and Vice President Leni Robredo. INQUIRER
MANILA, Philippines — More local government officials are throwing their support to the tandem of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis Pangilinan for the 2022 national elections, the latest being Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi.
According to Fresnedi, Robredo and Pangilinan should lead the country as both have the “sincerity and competence to serve.”
Robredo and Pangilinan would be running for president and vice president, respectively, in next year’s election.
“I’m supporting VP Leni for President and Senator Kiko for Vice President, believing na silang dalawa ay karapat-dapat to be the leaders of the 110 million Filipinos,” Fresnedi said in a statement Monday.
“They have the sincerity and the competence to serve and lead. Nakikita natin ‘yung love of country, and love for the Filipinos. ‘Yun ang ino-offer nila, walang reservations. They are offering their services, their lives, their time to serve the people of the Philippines for the next six years,” he added.
The Muntinlupa City chief executive further noted that Robredo enjoys the trust of the people, as shown by the consistent partnership of the private sector with the Office of the Vice President which initiated many anti-poverty and COVID-19 response programs under her watch.
“Instead na idiretso sa [ibang ahensya ng] gobyerno ‘yung kanilang mga donasyon, idinidiretso sa tanggapan ni Vice President Leni Robredo dahil nakita nila na tama ‘yung ginagawa,” Fresnedi noted.
(Instead of giving their donation to other government agencies, they opted to give it directly to the office of Vice Presiden Leni Robredo because they see that she is doing it right.)
“Ang mahalaga ay may tiwala ang mga tao sa nanunungkulan. At may tiwala sila kay VP Leni, bagamat minamaliit ang kaniyang tanggapan at ang kaniyang kakayanan — una, dahil siya ay babae; pangalawa, posibleng dahil nakikita nila na reserved siya. Pero ipinakita niya na kaya niyang mag-deliver. Kaya niyang gawin ‘yung ginagawa ng may mas marami at malaking resources. At ito ang gusto ng mga tao,” he added.
(What is important is people trust the leader. And they trust VP Leni although some belittle her office and her capability — first, because she is a woman; second, possibly because they see her as someone who is reserved [unsociable or aloof]. But she has proven that she can deliver. She can do what those who have more or bigger resources can do. And this is what the people like.)
Aside from Fresnedi, local government leaders in Palawan, Cagayan de Oro, and Iloilo have also openly expressed their support to Robredo and Pangilinan.
Among them were the Abueg siblings of Palawan, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno, and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas.
Rep. Beng Abueg-Zaldivar and former lawmaker Erick Abueg said last week they are backing Robredo and Pangilinan because the tandem is a leadership that understands the importance of listening to people’s views.
READ: Palawan’s Abueg siblings back Leni-Kiko tandem for 2022 polls
Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno said he is supporting Robredo because he believes she can unify the Filipino people.
READ: ‘Leni can unify the people,’ says Cagayan de Oro mayor
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, on the other hand, offered praises for Robredo. He said he has known her for a long time, attesting that she has always been supportive of projects in the city.
READ: Iloilo city mayor posts photos, comments on social media favorable to Leni Robredo