Spokesperson: “Robredo presidency victory for all Filipinos”

Amid calls for her to withdraw from the presidential race, Vice President Leni Robredo remained focused on showing the people that a “Robredo presidency will mean a victory for all Filipinos.”

In a statement, Robredo’s spokesperson, Atty. Barry Gutierez, said they also wish that only the best candidates decide to push through to the end.

Gutierez was reacting to a call from presidential aspirants Isko Moreno, Panfilo Lacson, and Norberto Gonzales for the vice president to consider a “new number 2” to fight against survey frontrunner, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr., by giving up her presidential bid.

The three held a joint press conference in Manila yesterday where they claimed an emissary from the camp of the vice president asked them to withdraw and campaign for Robredo instead.

They declared that they will continue their respective campaign and urged Robredo to instead consider the other contenders as possible option to beat Marcos.

“But in making these choices, should we not ask ourselves: Must this assertion be made through bluster and falsehood? Who benefits from such theatrics? What is best for the Filipino people? Perhaps, silence would have had more depth; at the very least, it would exhibit less self-entitlement, fragility, and toxicity,” Gutierrez said.

“With three weeks to go before election day, we are at a time of great momentum for our People’s Campaign, and increasing clarity as regards which candidates can count on the people's support when they enter voting booths on May 9,” he added.

From the start, Gutierrez said it has been the prerogative of every candidate to continue till the end, the same as it is the choice of a candidate to disregard surveys, rally attendance, endorsements, or any other conventional measure of support.

For the Akbayan Partylist, the joint press conference may be considered a first in Philippine politics, but it is also a historic missed opportunity, a triumph of macho egos and a tragedy of political and common sense.

“Faced with the prospect of another Marcos capturing the presidency, the call for so-called unity among the candidates to finish the presidential race is myopic. It loses sight of the bigger picture,” it said adding “it only benefitted Bongbong Marcos at the expense of attackingVice President Leni Robredo”.

The partylist said that Robredo represents “our best chance to defeat Marcos Jr.”

“Of all the presidential candidates opposed to Marcos Jr., Leni pulls the biggest numbers, carries the momentum and enjoys the support of a truly broad democratic movement. Failure to see this is foolish and selfish. This presidential election is bigger than the self interest of all the candidates. Their careers and reputations are not at stake here, but the very soul and future of our democracy,” it added.

Emmanuel “Anol” Mongaya, convenor of LeniAce Junjun Movement in Cebu, said the public will “witness a showdown between the forces of plunder and political renewal.”

“These political machos will be swept aside. Expect congressmen and mayors in Cebu to side with Leni, Ace, and Junjun”.

Ace Durano is challenging incumbent Governor Gwen Garcia while Vice Governor Hilario “Junnjun” Davide III is seeking a fresh mandate.