An estimated 50,000 supporters as of 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, lit up the Old Provincial Capitol Oval for the grand rally for presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. In the 2016 vice presidential elections, Robredo lost in Nueva Ecija. This time around, Nueva Ecija promised Robredo: “Babawi kami!” (VP Leni Media Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo sought to make inroads in Nueva Ecija where, for the first time, she took a swipe at her strongest opponent, former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos.
There, she tweaked her stump speech to take a more pointed approach, urging voters not to believe those saying they were against corruption “but refuse to pay taxes.”
“When they say they are against corruption, let’s ask for receipts. How can they say that if they don’t even pay taxes?” Robredo said, alluding to the Marcos family’s unpaid P203-billion estate taxes.
This was the first time Robredo addressed the issue on the campaign trail. Usually, she asks her supporters to try to convince more people to join their ranks.
However, for years, she has been the target of disinformation that not only seeks to whitewash the Marcoses of their crimes during martial law but also paints her as lazy, stupid, and a communist supporter.
While barnstorming, Robredo got the endorsement of Nueva Ecija Rep. Azel Nagano and San Leonardo Mayor Elan Nagano.
During her grand rally, Robredo also shared she was scared to stage such a massive event at the Nueva Ecija High School oval in Cabanatuan City — a Marcos bailiwick.
“I wanted to request a smaller venue but you surprised me,” she told her supporters, who numbered 50,000 by the end of the event, according to local organizers.
She reminded Novo Ecijanos that even though she lost in the province by over 200,000 votes in 2016, she continued to implement her programs there.
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