(Vice President Leni Robredo is joined on stage by Pampanga officials Board Member Ananias Canlas Jr. (left) and CSF Mayor Edwin Santiago (2nd from right). Photo by Gener C. Endona)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday campaigned for the “Otso Diretso” in a meeting with representatives of various sectors in a multisectoral dialogue here which included former governor Eddie Panlilio at the Heroes Hall.
The former Pampanga governor even hinted at a 2022 presidential run for Robredo. However, Robredo said her priority is her anti-poverty program.
“Ayaw niya po mabahiran ng pulitika, pero kung destiny ay destiny,” Panlilio was quoted as saying.
The vice president, who campaigned earlier in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, admitted that her candidates have no money but she is appealing to the voters to get to know them first.
Kase yung walong pinapakilala namen siguradu kame na kapag nakilala tutulungan dahil mabubuting tao ito (Because the eight candidates that we are introducing to you, if you get to know them, you will help them because they are good people),” Robredo told her listeners.
However, it was observed that in the two events, earlier in Nueva Ecija and later in Pampanga, she never failed to mention in her speeches the Otso Diretso candidates before a crowd of barangay officials, retired teachers, youth leaders, persons with disability, and tricycle operators, among others.
In her speech in Nueva Ecija, she spoke of the credentials and clean track record of Otso Diretso candidates to boost their Senate bids.
In this capital city, Robredo made a pitch for the opposition senatorial bets, asking Kapampangans not only to vote for them but help her campaign for them as well.
“Kapag bumilib kayo sa Otso Diretso, ang sunod kong hilingin sa inyo hindi lang iboto sila kundi ipakilala rin sa iba (Once you believe in Otso Diretso, my next request to you is not only to vote for them, but also introduce them to others),” Robredo said.
At the sidelines, Robredo said she would take advantage of her community visits to talk about the Otso Diretso slate.
“When I make rounds ever since I started my term, you know that I would spend two to three days of the week to go to the communities. Now that it is the election season, I would take advantage of the opportunity to introduce the candidates whom we believe would truly be of service to the people,” the Vice President said.
Pampanga is a vote-rich province with 1.3 million registered voters. It is the bailiwick and the home province of Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, an ally of President Duterte.
Running for senators under Otso Diretso are former Interior secretary Mar Roxas II, Senator Bam Aquino IV, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc, election lawyer Romy Macalintal, ex-Quezon congressman Erin Tañada, and former solicitor general Florin Hilbay.
