An estimated 40,000 Ilonggos showed up to express their support for the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo at the Iloilo Sports Complex on Friday. The rally turned into a mini-concert after the legendary Pinoy rock star, former Eraserheads frontman, Ely Buendia, performed some of the band’s hit songs. (VP Leni Media Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo is confident that voters in Iloilo province will support her presidential bid after an estimated 40,000 individuals attended her grand rally in Iloilo City on Friday.
Robredo recalled during the program on Friday that she won by a wide margin in Iloilo during the 2016 vice presidential race, a margin so wide that allegations of cheating were raised.
She, however, stressed that there was no cheating — that the wide gap between her and the other candidates was only because Ilonggos knew how to vote wisely.
“Tuwing pupunta po ako dito, lagi niyong pinaparamdam ang matinding pagmamahal ng mga Ilonggo sa amin. Hindi ko po makakalimutan ang grabeng suportang ibinigay ninyo sa akin no’ng 2016,” Robredo told the crowd.
“Sa sobrang ka-dako sang abanse naton diri sa Iloilo, may nagprotesta pa nga. Gindaya kuno naton sila diri, matuod-tuod, hindi madaya ang mga Ilonggo, kabalo lang magpilis sang tama ng mga lideres,” she added, speaking in the Ilonggo language to the delight of the audience.
Former Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia, performs some of the band’s hit songs during the grand rally in Iloilo City for the presidential bid of Vice President Lenny Robredo (VP Leni Media Bureau)
(Sa sobrang laki ng lamang natin dito sa Iloilo, may nagprotesta pa nga. Dinaya raw natin sila dito, sa totoo lang, hindi mandaraya ang mga Ilonggo, marunong lang sila pumili ng tamang pinuno.)
The Vice President got 706,052 votes in Iloilo in 2016.
Iloilo was one of the provinces that losing 2016 vice presidential candidate and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. picked for his second cause of action or recount, along with Camarines Sur and Negros Oriental.
Marcos Jr. is also seeking the presidency in May.
The Supreme Court, sitting as the President Electoral Tribunal, unanimously dismissed Marcos’ election protest for lack of merit, as it was unable to explain how fraud happened given that Robredo’s votes actually increased after the recount.
Marcos Jr. is running for president, setting up a rematch with Robredo. A day before the Vice President visited Iloilo, Marcos toured Western Visayas but was forced to reschedule the event after residents protested.
Another rally of Marcos and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in Guimbal, Iloilo was called off after it was discovered that they would be using a public or a government-owned school as venue for the rally.
Robredo has toured Northern Mindanao and Central Visayas, before visiting the province of Iloilo.