Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan
MANILA, Philippines — Vice Presidential candidate Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said he skipped a rally in Eastern Samar to ensure that local political leaders in the province will give their “full force” support for his running mate, Vice President Leni Robredo.
Pangilinan said he was informed by their campaign team that local officials in Eastern Samar “wanted only to endorse VP Leni and not my candidacy.”
“In order to ensure that the local political leaders came out in full force to show public support for her bid, I agreed not to attend. In certain localities, to borrow the term, for Leni to increase, I must decrease,” the senator said in a statement on Wednesday.
Pangilinan thanked supporters in Borongan City for expressing their support for him and his tandem with Robredo despite his absence in the rally.
“Nakakataba ng puso na hinahanap nila ako. Humihingi ako ng pasensya na rin na hindi ako nakadalo kagabi [It’s heartwarming that they were looking for me. I apologize if I wasn’t able to attend],” he said.
“Under a different set of political circumstances I would have loved to see our kababayans and supporters in Eastern Samar,” he added.
Robredo secured the support of 41 of 47 mayors in Northern and Eastern Samar during her two-day barnstorming across the island earlier this week.