BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – A multi-sectoral group in vote-rich Sugarlandia is calling on Vice President Leni Robredo to run for president in the coming 2022 general polls, calling her the person “most qualified to lead us into the future.”
The group, which organizers described as “multi-sectoral,” included former provincial Gov. Rafael Coscolluela and lawyers Andrea Si, a former legal officer, Jesse Suarez, a former provincial poll supervisor, and Sonya Verdeflor, a former city Councilor – as key convenors and members of a panel who faced the local press yesterday.
Suarez said he cannot “close his eyes to the realities happening in the country” even as his previous career required him to be apolitical.
“How can you not speak up when you see a president cussing on television,” as he praised Robredo for having a “private life worthy of emulation” and who has run a “tightly managed office despite limited budget.”
Joseph Tuvilla, who represented young professionals, said “in spite of her limitations” as vice president, Robredo has shown creativity in helping those on the “fringes,” including the youth that have been affected by the pandemic by putting up learning hubs across the country.
“Power amplifies what is inside and with the vice president, she will promote the good,” he added in a mix of English and Hiligaynon.
Si, a mother, said the country had been living in the past five years under a government that stand for values against that of a mother as she pointed out that there exists” gun violence” and disrespect of women.
Coscolluela, a governor for nine years and an ally of the Liberal Party, said the country needs a “nation builder” that will enable the country to rise again.
“We are suffering from a terrible reputation and is noted to be among those with a worst performing economy and a bad performance in managing the crisis caused by COVID,” Coscolluela said during the news conference.
Coscolluela had earlier told DNX that the local movement is independent from the Liberal Party and is part of national efforts to build a groundswell of support that would push the vice president to run for Malacanang.
Negros Occidental has more than two million voters based on latest government data, putting it among the top five vote-rich provinces in the country.
