Supporters of Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas ask “Where’s Leni?” when the presidential aspirant went to Payatas, Quezon City with Mayor Herbert Bautista on Monday. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS
Where’s Leni?
That was the question of Payatas residents when Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas went to the Quezon City village to inaugurate a multipurpose hall on Monday morning.
Some supporters were disappointed that vice presidential aspirant and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo was not with Roxas when he was invited to speak at Bistekville I in Barangay (village) Payatas.
Yellow banners of Roxas and Robredo were seen all over Bistekville. The supporters and residents of the village were all carrying heart-shaped colored papers with words “Mar-Leni” and an illustration of “Daang Matuwid” ribbon.
A woman in her 50s told INQUIRER.net that she came to the event only to see Robredo.
“We were told last Saturday that she would come to Payatas with Mar Roxas that’s why I’m here,” the yellow-wearing supporter, who requested anonymity, said.
“I wanted to see her because she’s my kababayan, I’m from Naga too,” she said.
Another woman, who also asked not to be named, said she went to the event to see Robredo, her co-parent at the Philippine Science High School where one of the lawmaker’s daughter, Jillian, is studying.
“It was announced last Saturday that she would visit Payatas,” she said. After speaking to this reporter, the woman asked the village officers, “Nasaan si Leni?”
When asked if she would vote for Roxas too, she said: “Yes, of course. I will vote for Mar too because I’m an Ilonggo.”
In a previous interview with Inquirer editors and reporters, Robredo said that aside from her campaign with Roxas, she will have to campaign on her own to be able to introduce herself to the people.
Robredo said it was her choice not to go around with Roxas all the time “because the attention of the people [will always be on] him, obviously.”
As of writing, Robredo is at the vice presidential forum held at the University of the Philippines College of Law. The debate, which started at 3 p.m., was also attended by Senator Francis Escudero.