MANILA, Philippines — After gaining a 9-percentage points increase in Mindanao in the latest Pulse Asia survey, allies of Vice President Leni Robredo are “very confident” that she can still win in the region.
Basilan Rep. and former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Mujiv Hataman said Thursday that the story seems to follow that of the 2016 vice presidential elections where Robredo was initially falling behind in Mindanao, but eventually won in several areas in the region.
“Ako, very confident ako mahahabol pa rin yung lamang ni [Bongbong Marcos] dito sa MIndanao lalong-lalo na very hard na rin ang campaign at intensified na ngayon dahil willing ang mga volunteers maghouse-to-house na,” Hataman said during the 1Sambayan TAPATan forum.
(I am very confident that VP Leni can still catch up with Marcos in Mindanao especially since the campaign has intensified and volunteers are now willing to do house-to-house campaigns.)
Hataman pointed out that the latest survey released by Pulse Asia for the month of March does not cover yet the endorsement of Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez and several incumbent local officials in the province.
Aside from Alvarez, several other congressmen and local officials in Mindanao are also backing Robredo’s presidential bid.
Meanwhile, According to 1SAMBAYAN convenor and former ambassador to Egypt Makabangkit Lanto, who also hails from Mindanao, Robredo has the “momentum”, citing that groups and individuals supporting the presidential bet are actively campaigning not only on the ground but also on social media.
“We have the momentum. Tuloy-tuloy na ito. Gaya nung last VP (vice presidential) elections, kami ay kampante na talagang mananalo dito si VP Leni,” Lanto said in the same forum.
(We have the momentum. This will continue. Similar to the last vice-presidential elections, we are confident that VP Leni will win here.)
“Hindi naman nagbago pero aktibo ngayon ‘yung mga volunteer group namin dito sa Mindanao lalo na sa Bangsamoro, sa social media,” he added.
(Nothing changed but volunteer groups here in Mindanao, especially in Bangsamoro, are now more active, including in social media.)
Based on the Pulse Asia survey, Robredo reported a nine-percentage point increase in Mindanao while frontrunner Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. recorded a 6-percent point decline.
Despite this, Robredo still lags behind Marcos in all regions in Mindanao, based on the survey.
Mindanaoans’ support for a Bicolana
Both Hataman and Lanto hail from Mindanao. Asked why they are supporting Robredo, who hails from Camarines Sur in the Bicol Region, the two said they stand by the vice president’s platform.
“Kahit gaanong gusto mo iboto yung taga-Mindanao, nangingibabaw pa rin yung love for the country. Ang issue dito hindi naman kung siya ba ay taga-Mindanao o hindi taga-Mindanao—ang issue dito, ang future ng ating bayan,” Lanto said.
(Even if you want to vote for someone from Mindanao, what prevails is the love for the country. The issue here is not about if she is from Mindanao or not—the issue here is the future of our country.)
“Very clear ang mga plataporma ni VP Leni sa Mindanao samantala yung plataporma ng ibang kandidato ay medyo malabo at walang categorical platform sila for Mindanao,” he added.
(VP Robredo has a very clear platform while the platform of other candidates are unclear or they do not have a categorical platform for Mindanao.)
Hataman, meanwhile, said while he would be happy if the country will have a Muslim president or a leader that also hails from Mindanao, he would be “more happy” if the country will elect a president with direction.
“Titingnan mo rin yung track records nung nagdadala ng issues kasi sa totoo lang naman pag panahon ng eleksyon lahat ng kandidato maganda ang sinasabi at sabihin nya eto ang aggawin ko pero at the end of the day, tingnan mo yung track reords ng isang kandidato,” Hataman said.
(You have to check their track records because fact of the matter is candidates will say good things during elections, but at the end of the day, you have to check the track record of the candidates.)