Over 412,000 friends and supporters celebrated Vice President Leni Robredo’s birthday with a street party for the presidential aspirant at Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City on Saturday, April 23. The star-studded event featured celebrities such as Vice Ganda, Gary Valenciano, and APO Hiking Society, her running mate Kiko Pangilinan, and her complete senatorial slate. (VP Leni Media Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate and Vice President Leni Robredo managed to secure two more key endorsements from politicians in Nueva Ecija and Batanes days after getting the support of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP).
During Robredo’s visit to the 1st District of Nueva Ecija, Rep. Estrellita Suansing — who has been a close friend of the Vice President — raised Robredo’s hand and formally endorsed her candidacy.
“Sa araw na ito, sa oras na ito, sa harap ng aking mga ka-distrito, pormal kong ineendorso ang aking matalik na kaibigan bilang pangulo ng Pilipinas, Leni Robredo,” Suansing said in her introduction of Robredo at the Henry Ocampo Compound in Santo Domingo, Nueva Ecija.
Suansing asked Filipinos not to waste the chance to elect a person who will change government, as she believes Robredo is capable of doing that.
“Isang beses lang dadaan sa buhay natin ang isang Leni Robredo. Huwag nating hayaan na lumipas ang pagkakataong ito. Tanggapin at dinggin natin siya,” she explained.
“Tulungan natin siya na baguhin ang sistema ng ating gobyerno na mabigyang halaga ang mga mahihirap na mga bayan tulad natin. Lalong lalo na ang ating mga kababayan na tila yata nakalimutan na ng ating gobyerno – ang ating mga kababayan na nasa laylayan ng ating lipunan,” she added.
Over Batanes, Governor Marilou Cayco said during the visit of Robredo’s youngest daughter Jillian that they will support the Vice President in the coming elections.
The younger Robredo was in Batanes to do house-to-house campaigns.
The two officials are the latest on the long line of personalities and groups to express support for Robredo’s candidacy. As mentioned earlier, MILF and UBJP gave Robredo a fitting gift on her birthday last Saturday after the two parties which make up a huge part of the Bangsamoro government.
READ: Birthday gift: Robredo secures MILF, UBJP endorsement
Earlier, Aksyon Demokratiko member and Tagbilaran City, Bohol mayoral candidate Jose Antonio “Toto” Veloso said that he and his slate are now behind the presidential bid of Robredo.
“The success of VP Leni in stirring, inspiring, and rallying people as seen in surveys, social media, and in huge turnout in almost all her rallies are clear manifestations that she has all it takes to become the best alternative candidate that people want her to be,” Veloso said in a statement signed by him and his fellow candidates.
On Sunday, a faction of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) led by Abubakar Mangelen also declared its support for Robredo’s candidacy, despite the party’s standard bearer being former senator Bongbong Marcos.
Prior to that, Mangelen endorsed Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, who is also the standard bearer of Aksyon Demokratiko.
READ: Partido Federal faction shifts support from Isko Moreno to Robredo