Robredo thanks supporters, but she’s not backing down

Vice President Leni Robredo delivers a statement in the early hours of Tuesday, May 10, 2022. (Photo from a livestream video on her Facebook page)

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo has not bowed out of the presidential race, but she chose to issue a statement to thank volunteers and supporters who joined her People’s Campaign, which she called a movement for democracy and for a new brand of politics.

Early Tuesday morning in Naga City, Robredo made a live-streamed video statement on Facebook thanking everyone who participated in the grassroots campaign — including the house-to-house tour of some of her supporters, who risked their jobs and their names just to ask people to vote for her.

“First of all, let me thank you — all of you who voted for me, who convinced their families, friends, acquaintances, and even those who they did not know, who did so in so many ways. To all those who staked their careers and their names in sharing our message,” she said in Filipino.

“To all those who gathered in rallies, who conducted house-to-house campaigns; who posted tarps; who posted on social media; who wrote, who made videos and advertisements; to the medics; to those who voluntarily cleaned up after our rallies; to those who played music and lent their voices to show the power of the people who had seen hope — no number can measure the depth of your love. Thank you very much to all of you,” she added.

[Original statement: “Una sa lahat, hayaan ninyo akong magpasalamat. Sa lahat ng bumoto. Sa lahat ng nangumbinsi sa kanilang mga pamilya, kaibigan, kakilala, kahit ng mga di kakilala, sa iba’t ibang paraan.  Sa mga nagtaya ng karera at pangalan sa pagbabahagi ng ating mensahe. Sa milyon-milyong nagtipon sa mga rally, nag-house-to-house, nagpaskil ng mga tarps, nagpost sa social media, nagsulat, gumawa ng mga video at patalastas, sa mga medic, sa mga kusang naglinis sa ating mga rally, nagpinta at tumugtog at nagpahiram ng boses para maipakita ang lakas ng taumbayang nakatikim ng pag-asa. Hindi kayang sukatin ng numero ang lalim ng pagmamahal ninyo. Maraming, maraming salamat sa inyo.”

She also called for calmness despite partial and unofficial results of  the quick count showing frontrunner, former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., already leading by over 14 million votes.

According to Robredo, her followers have created something special — a movement initiated by the people, which she considers a big victory in itself.

“Let’s be assured by your contribution: We have started something that has never been seen in the whole history of the country — a campaign led by the people,” she went on.

“This is a movement that was formed not only to dismantle an old and decaying system but also to forge a true and positive change. You have embodied democracy, not only in voting but also in showing your love for fellow Filipinos. This is a very big victory. And our campaign can only be considered a failure if we allow the unity we have formed to fall apart,” she added.

[Original statement: “Maging panatag sa inyong ambag: May nasimulan tayong hindi pa kailanman nasasaksihan sa buong kasaysayan ng bansa. Isang kampanyang pinamunuan ng taumbayan. Isang kilusang nabuo hindi lang para baklasin ang luma at bulok na sistema, kundi para magpanday ng totoo at positibong pagbabago. Isinadiwa ninyo ang demokrasya, hindi lang sa pagboto, kundi sa pagmamahal sa kapwa Pilipino. Napakalaking tagumpay nito—at maituturing lang na bigo ang kampanya natin kung hahayaan nating malusaw ang nabuo nating samahan.”]

There was initially confusion as to whether Robredo had conceded the presidential race, as she said that the voice of the people was becoming clearer in the elections.

“I know that it’s not easy for you to accept the number coming out of the quick count. It’s clear that it’s not only disappointment but dismay that our side feels. Nevertheless, I tell you: I know we love the country, but this love should not be the cause of divisiveness,” Robredo said.

She also noted that all the votes had not been counted and that there were issues still unresolved.

But she said: “The voice of the people is becoming clearer and clear. In the name of the Philippines that I know you also love, we need to listen to this voice because in the end we only we have once country that we share.”

[Original statement: “ Alam kong hindi madaling tanggapin sa inyo ang mga numerong lumalabas sa quick count. Hindi lang panghihinayang, kundi malinaw na pagkadismaya ang nararamdaman ng ating hanay […] Gayumpaman, sinasabi ko sa inyo: Alam kong mahal natin ang bansa, pero hindi puwedeng maging ugat pa ng pagkakawatak-watak ang pagmamahal na ito. Bagaman may hindi pa nabibilang; bagaman may mga tanong pa ukol sa eleksyon na ito na kailangang matugunan: Palinaw na nang palinaw ang tinig ng taumbayan. Sa ngalan ng Pilipinas na alam kong mahal na mahal rin ninyo: Kailangan nating pakinggan ang tinig na ito, dahil sa huli, iisa lang ang bayang pinagsasaluhan natin.”]

As of 3:50 a.m. on Tuesday, the partial and unofficial count from the Commission on Election’s transparency server showed that Marcos has 29.69 million votes, way ahead of Robredo’s 14.16 million votes.

The lead appears to reflect pre-election surveys from Pulse Asia held last April 16 to 21, where Marcos got 56 percent of the respondents’ votes if elections were held on those days. Robredo had only had 23 percent of the respondents’ votes.

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