Robredo: True unity is endorsement from various groups, sectors

Vice President Leni Robredo is welcomed by nuns and supporters at St. Scholastica Academy in Talisay City on Thursday, February 24, 2022. (Gabriel Pabico Lalu / INQUIRER.net)

TALISAY CITY, Cebu — Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday said true unity is found in having people from different beliefs and walks of life rallying together — just like various sectors and former cabinet officials — for a common advocacy.

Robredo issued the statement during an event at the St. Scholastica Academy in Talisay, after being asked about the endorsements made by various sectors in recent weeks.

Robredo’s presidential bid was endorsed by Cabinet officials of former presidents Fidel Ramos and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, along with some economists and former United Nations officers.

 “Ako, sobrang humbled, sobrang thankful, sobrang grateful lalo na kasi unsolicited. Gustong sabihin, ang mensahe kasi noon sa akin mas marami na ngayong mga tao saka mga groups ang nararamdaman how important this election is going to be.  Meaning to say, hindi lang siya simple na labanan ng mga personalities pero pinaglalaban na ano ‘yung mangyayari sa atin in the next six years,” Robredo said.

Vice President Leni Robredo is welcomed by nuns and supporters at St. Scholastica Academy in Talisay City on Thursday, February 24, 2022. (Gabriel Pabico Lalu / INQUIRER.net)

 “So, iba-iba ‘yung pinanggalingan pero iisa ‘yung hangarin. So if at all, ito talaga ‘yung tunay na unity eh. ‘Yung unity sa aspirations for the country, hindi siya unity sa mga political na considerations pero ito iba-iba na itong grupo,” she added.

 Robredo noted that despite the officials coming from different backgrounds, they have seen how crucial the upcoming elections are — and how it would affect the country for the next six years.

 “Iba-ibang pinanggalingan, iba-iba– halimbawa, ‘yung pinakaunang lumabas ‘yung cabinet ni President Ramos, tapos cabinet ni President Aquino, tapos cabinet ni President Arroyo,” she said.

 “Tapos ‘yung, halimbawa, ‘yung mga retired UN officials, ‘yung mga retired DSWD officials, so iba-iba. Iba-iba ‘yung pinanggalingan pero one aspiration for the country and how to achieve that aspiration would depend on the results of the elections,” she added.

In terms of how her campaign should address the gap between her and the frontrunner, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Robredo said the primary concern is fighting disinformation.

Still, the Vice President remains hopeful that Cebu City would deliver votes again for her, just like in 2016 when she got 807,000 votes in the said province — over 151,000 votes more than othe next candidate, former senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

 Robredo won against Marcos in 2016 by around 260,000 votes.

 “Ako, I am very hopeful. Kasi noong 2016, pumunta ako dito, nangangako ako pero wala pa akong resibo. Meaning to say, lahat na sinabi ko sa mga Cebuano ay pangako. At nagpapasalamat tayo na grabe ang tiwalang binigay sa akin, pero ngayon na pagbalik ko, iba na eh,” she explained.

 “Nangangako ulit ako, pero meron na akong resibo na nagfa-follow through ako sa aking mga pangako, na hindi ko pinabayaan ‘yung Cebu in the last almost six years that I was Vice President,” she added.

 According to a recent Pulse Asia survey, Robredo will face an uphill battle in the 2022 national elections: against Marcos Jr.

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