Vice President Leni Robredo started her second day of visit to Negros Occidental with a meeting with the chapter leaders of Murcia Women’s Association – Lakas ng Kababaihan (MWA-LNK) in Sitio Sumbingco, Brgy. Damsite in Murcia, Negros Occidental.
FILE photo / Jay Ganzon of OVP)
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo has revealed that her camp is setting up a People’s Council aimed at unifying different efforts from grassroots teams, who are campaigning for her presidential bid in the 2022 national elections.
In a recorded message aired on Tuesday, Robredo viewed several of the campaign materials recently created by grassroots teams — groups that have popped out as early as August to ask the Vice President to run for president.
After thanking volunteers for their efforts, Robredo said that the so-called “Robredo’s People Council” would consolidate efforts per sector and province, for more organized activities.
“Hindi ko man kayo maisa-isa lahat, gusto kong sabihin na nakikita ko ang mga gawa ninyo. Kayong lahat—na kusang loob na nagvo-volunteer—ang nagpapalakas sa ating People’s Campaign,” Robredo said in her video statement.
(I may not be able to name each one of you, but I just want to say that I have seen your work. All of you — who willingly volunteered — strengthen our People’s Campaign.)
“May binubuo tayong Robredo’s People Council sa bawat sektor at probinsya para malinaw at organisado ang ating pagkilos. At gaya ng dati, sana sa inyong mga likha at gawa, huwag kalimutang maging pink,” she added.
(We are building a Robredo’s People Council for each sector and province so that movements would be clear and organized. And as always, I hope that through your craft and output, we may not forget being pink.)
Robredo also reminded her supporters again that in discussing politics whether on social media or personally, it is important to be calm and gentle and avoid conflicts with people who do share their beliefs.
“Ang ating mensahe: Ang pink ay hindi lamang kulay. Ang pink ay uri ng pamumuhay. Maging maingat sa pananalita. Magsabi lagi ng totoo. Ipagtanggol ang katotohanan. Huwag magsalita ng masakit sa kapwa,” she stressed.
(Our message: Pink is not just a color. It is a way of life. Be careful in your words, always speak the truth. Defend the truth. Do not say anything that would hurt your fellow Filipino.)
“At palaging piliing magmahal. Dahil ang komunikasyon, ginagamit para tayo’y magkaintindihan,” she noted.
(And always choose to love. Because communication should be used for us to understand each other.)
Robredo in the past has insisted that she cannot mount a national campaign alone, as she does not have the machinery or the resources to do it. What happened was that several grassroots organizations sprouted, in hopes of convincing her to run.
Different sectoral groups — from members of the LGBTQIA+ community, academicians, youth, lawyers, laborers, and people from various areas like Bulacan and Quezon province — have expressed support for Robredo’s presidential bid.
READ: Lawyers, labor leaders, LGBT sectors want Robredo for president in 2022
READ: Groups in Quezon launch campaign to urge Robredo to run for president
READ: ‘Teachers for Leni’ urges Robredo to seek presidency
A grassroots approach to political matters is not new to Robredo: in 2017, she pushed her party, the Liberal Party (LP), to convince people to join them by opening membership to non-politicians.
The grassroots drive also became the backbone of LP’s campaign in the 2019 midterm elections, when the Otso Diretso slate fielded new faces in the senatorial race.
READ: Robredo officially takes control of LP during ‘low-key’ meeting
While none of the opposition candidates won in 2019, LP still banked on the formula, believing it would bear fruit as the grassroots approach addresses a usual criticism against the party — that it is elitist, and left people in key discussions.
READ: On LP’s 75th anniv, Robredo calls on members to persevere, welcome people