Robredo camp grateful for ROSA 2022 but will stick with Leni-Kiko

Vice President Leni Robredo is grateful of groups backing her presidential bid even if they support another vice presidential bet but she will only campaign for running mate Senator Francis Pangilinan, her camp said Tuesday.

Ibarra Gutierrez, spokesperson for Robredo, made the response a day after Albay Representative Joey Salceda, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez,  and Zamboanga City Mayor Isabela Climaco led the launch of ROSA (Robredo-Sara) movement, a group of volunteers pushing Robredo for president and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte as her vice president.

The group said it is time for women to lead the country noting that Robredo and Duterte have been efficient in delivering social services to the people, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are still very thankful for their support for her. They were among the first incumbent officials to actually declare their support for VP Leni and she will always be grateful but her position on this matter has been clear from the start. Ang katandem niya ay si (her running mate is) Senator Pangilinan," Gutierrez said in a CNN Philippines interview.

"She will be pushing for his (Pangilinan) election as VP. She will not be campaigning for other candidates," he added.

Gutierrez, however, conceded that supporters backing candidates from different slates is not surprising given that the president and vice president are elected separately in the Philippines unlike in the United States.

"That is the reality in Philippine politics and the electoral system. There will always be people who will choose a different configuration but our vice presidential bet is Senator Kiko and that will never change," he pointed out.

Gutierrez then said Robredo is used to finding ways to make things work amid difficult situations.

"It's not a question of personal comfort, it's a question of what needs to be done. The Vice President has been clear. Of course, right now, we are doing everything in our power to ensure that Senator Kiko will take his oath as vice president come June 30. But regardless of who gets elected, she will be willing to work with the person the people will choose to be the vice president," he said.

"She has made it very clear, she has had first hand experience with being a vice president who is an outsider looking in, someone who has been excluded from the day to day workings of government because of the political configuration and definitely that is something she does not want to happen to the next vice president," Gutierrez added.

Rallies like EDSA People Power, says De Lima

Senator Leila de Lima said the campaign rallies for Robredo and Pangilinan are reminiscent of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.

De Lima, who is seeking another term under Robredo's slate, said "Kakampink" rallies, particularly the record-breaking attendance in Pasig City last Sunday, is unstoppable.

“The record rallies of the Leni-Kiko campaign are certainly a new phenomenon in our politics. Almost 140K in Ortigas is unprecedented. This is People Power. And just like in 1986, it is unstoppable. #PasigIsPink,” De Lima said in a Twitter post.

“This is the true spirit of EDSA: Filipinos making their voices heard to trapos and corrupt political dynasties. Their turn is up. The time for good governance is now. #LetLeniLead #NeverAgain,” she added.

Meanwhile, around 50,000 individuals have also joined Robredo’s campaign rally in Nueva Ecija, Cabanatuan City on Tuesday.—With Mel Matthew Doctor/AOL/LDF, GMA News