More than 30,000 supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo, many of them from the youth sector, filled the General Trias Sports Park in Cavite in a flurry of pink, at the presidential aspirant’s Grand Rally in Cavite on Friday, March 4, 2022. (VP Leni Media Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo’s supporters in Cavite province have denounced allegations that those who attended the grand rally at General Trias last Friday were either paid to join or were trained by the National Democratic Front (NDF), saying that the accusations were both ‘malicious and baseless’.
In a statement from the Robredo People’s Council (RPC) – Cavite posted on Facebook by Cavite 6th District Board Member Kerby Salazar — a supporter of the Vice President — the group said that the participants of the rally showed up due to volunteerism.
Such claims, the council said in the statement issued Sunday, is an insult on the dignity of Cavite province residents who only seek good governance.
“Una, walang hinakot at binayaran ng P500 kapalit ang paglahok sa nasabing ‘rally’. Ang pakikilahok sa nasabing rally ay bunga ng nag-uumapaw na paghahangad ng mga Caviteño para sa pagbabago. Ito ay purong ‘bolunterismo’ — walang hinihinging kabayaran at kapalit kun’di ang pag-asang mabalik ang matino, mahusay, at may resibong pamamahala sa bayan,” the RPC in Cavite said.
(First of all, no one was brought and bought with P500 in exchange for participating in the said rally. Joining the rally was borne out of a overflowing desire of Caviteños for change. This is ‘volunteerism’ — without asking for any payment and favor except for bringing back an upright, excellent, and achievement-based governance.)
“Ang paratang na ito ay paghamak at pagyurak sa dignidad ng mga Caviteño at pagmamaliit sa kakayanan ng bawat isa na pumili ng karapat-dapat na mamuno sa susunod na anim na taon sa paniniwalang ‘hindi kailangan may bayad, ang mga Caviteño ay tapat at may dignidad’,” it added.
(Such claims are an insult to the dignity of Caviteños, and these are downplaying the right and ability of each person to pick the right to govern for the next six years, under the belief that ‘payment is not needed, Caviteños are morally upright and dignified.)
The response from the RPC in Cavite came after Cavite 7th District Rep. Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said that there were politicians who gave P500 to participants of a rally in Cavite.
Remulla did not name the exact rally, but during a DZRH radio program mentioned the color pink, which is the campaign motif of Robredo and Senator Francis Pangilinan who are running for president and vice president, respectively, in the 2022 national elections.
A huge crowd welcomed Robredo into Cavite — around 47,000 according to event organizers — even as Remulla’s younger brother, incumbent Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, had promised a huge win for the Vice President’s opponent former senator Bongbong Marcos.
READ: Warm welcome for Leni Robredo in Cavite rally
But according to the older Remulla, there were vehicles who ferried people into the General Trias Sports Center, while claiming that some of the participants were trained by the NDF.
RPC disputed Remulla’s claim, calling it irresponsible.
“Ang iresponsable at mapanirang konklusyon na ito lalo pa’t nagmula sa iginagalang na mga pinuno ng bansa ay sadyang makapaminsala sa moral at dignidad ng mga kabataang Caviteño na ang nais lamang ay iwasto ang pamamalakad sa ating pamahalaan,” RPC said.
(The irresponsible and destructive conclusions, especially that it came from respected leaders of the country, would only destroy the morality and dignity of the Caviteño youth who only want to fix the way the country is governed.)
Robredo's media bureau said over 10,000 people are already assembled at the SWU open grounds. #OurVoteOurFuture #VotePH | @GabrielLaluINQ https://t.co/P5uGhukPH3
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 24, 2022
“Ang pakikilahok ng mga kabataan sa nasabing rally ay tanda ng pagbangon ng kamalayan na naglalayong maghalal ng pinunong tatayo para isulong ang mga adhikaing huhubog sa mura nilang kaisipan,” it added.
(Young people joining rallies is a reminder that they are awakening the awareness about electing leaders who would push for advocacies, in their desire to shape their young minds.)
Robredo has been touring different towns and provinces in the country, recently attracting huge crowd after huge crowd: from 10,000 in Cebu City; 40,000 in Iloilo City; and then 45,000 in Malolos, Bulacan last Saturday.
On Sunday, Robredo’s spokesperson, former lawmaker Barry Gutierrez also denied claims that supporters were paid to join rallies.