Roxas, Robredo halt campaign, help ‘Lando’ victims

Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas (left, in white), running mate Leni Robredo and Aurora Rep. Bella Angara distribute food packs to victims of Typhoon “Lando” in Baler, Aurora. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY YACAP REP. CAROL LOPEZ

Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas and vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo have suspended their election campaign to distribute relief packs to victims of Typhoon “Lando” (international name: Koppu) in affected provinces.

Roxas and Robredo on Tuesday went to typhoon-ravaged Baler, Aurora, and Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, to hand over to Lando victims food packs they prepared with their families and some volunteers.

“Dumating nga si Lando at minarapat namin ni Leni na suspendihin muna ang kampanya ng iilang araw para makapag-concentrate sa food repacking at iba pang mga gawain ng ating mga volunteers,” said Roxas on Monday at the LP headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City.

In a disaster relief drive dubbed “Operation Tulong Bayan,” Roxas, his wife Korina Sanchez, Robredo with her daughters, and their volunteers prepared at least 5,000 food packs.

Each food pack contained six kilos of rice, eight cans of corned beef and sardines, six noodle packs, and five sachets of coffee.

In going around the typhoon-hit towns, the former interior and local government secretary said they did not want the local officials in the areas to prepare a welcoming ceremony for them.

“We will be visiting [the affected areas]. But we don’t want to interrupt the relief operations. ‘Pag pumunta kami doon, siyempre sasalubungin kami ng mga local government officials. So imbis na salubungin nila kami, mas gusto namin na may panahon sila para tutukan ‘yung mga dapat nilang inaatupag sa mga panahong ito,” said Roxas.

Lando moved further away from Luzon as it downgraded to a tropical storm on Tuesday. Storm signals, however, are still raised over 17 provinces in northern Luzon.

At least 12 casualties have been reported by the disaster mitigation council. Julliane Love de Jesus/RC

LP’s vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo and standard-bearer Mar Roxas’ wife Korina Sanchez prepare relief packs for Lando victims at the Balay headquarters in Quezon City. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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