Vice President Leni Robredo in Pagadian City (VP Leni Media Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo has urged her supporters to refrain from harboring hatred or giving in to emotional outbursts after three other presidential candidates criticized her, saying that they should instead focus on their ‘heart-to-heart’ campaign.
Robredo on Sunday night broke her silence about the press conference held by fellow presidential candidates Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Senator Panfilo Lacson, and former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, thanking people who defended her from criticisms and calls for her to withdraw from the race.
“Blessed Easter again to everyone. Alam kong maraming nasabi na ngayong araw. Ang iba nainis, ang iba walang pakialam, at ang iba nagalit. Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat na dumipensa,” Robredo said.
(A blessed Easter again to everyone. I know many things have been said today. Some were irritated, others do not care at all, and some got angry. I thank everyone who rushed to my defense.)
“Pero may pakiusap lang ako. Mula bukas, 20 campaign days nalang natitira. Kailangan wag tayong magpatalo sa emosyon. Huwag nang magbitaw ng masasakit na salita. Focus lang muna tayo sa kampanya – tao sa tao, puso sa puso. May bayan tayong kailangan ipaglaban,” she added.
(But I have one request: Starting tomorrow, we only have 20 campaign days left. We should not give in to emotions. Refrain from making harsh comments. Let us just focus on the person-to-person, heart-to-heart campaign. We have a nation to fight for.)
Presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo and her running mate, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, receive a warm welcome during the Manalakaran: Pampanga People’s Rally at Robinsons Star Mills on Saturday, April 9. (📷VPLR Media Bureau)
The Vice President’s reaction comes after the Moreno, Gonzales and Lacson – along with Lacson and Moreno’s own running mates — Senate President Vicente Sotto III and physician Willie Ong — held a joint press conference and announced that they are not withdrawing from the presidential race.
Lacson and Moreno also criticized Robredo, with the Manila Mayor also asking Robredo to withdraw.
Lacson also made some comments about Robredo’s decision not to tag her own running mate Senator Francis Pangilinan in some sorties, saying it reveals much about her personality.
After the joint press conference, Robredo’s spokesperson Barry Gutierrez said the the Vice President attended to Sumilao farmers who marched all the way from Bukidnon to Naga City.
Robredo however was seen on social media responding at netizens who poked fun at the calls for her to withdraw.
“Chill lang. Mahaba pa pila. Choz (Just chill. There’s a long queue),” she replied back to a netizen asking her how much she has withdrawn — from an automated telling machine.