Leni says supporters, local execs still showing up despite 'harassment'

DAGUPAN City, Pangasinan —Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday adverted to alleged instances of harassment that kept some buses from bringing her supporters to the rally venue and local officials from supporting her bid to be president after Eleksyon 2022.

Organizers estimated that 76,000 showed up at the Dagupan City rally, which happened hours after some individuals who presented themselves as supporters of former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. heckled her campaign team in Villasis.

"Sino sa inyo ang nawalan ng bus na sasakyan? Nagaalala ako kasi sabi sa akin may mga bus na hindi pinapabyahe pero andito pa rin kayo. Gustong sabihin, desididong desidido na kahit nahihirapan, narito pa rin. Ito iyong tunay na pagmamahal sa bayan," Robredo said.

(Who among you had no bus to ride to come here? I was a bit concerned because I was told that buses were not allowed to ply roads and yet you are here. It shows that you are really determined despite the difficulties. You are here. This is genuine love for our country.)

"Ngayong mga panahon na ito, maraming local officials ang nahihirapan na i-endorse tayo dahil merong mga pagkatakot. Kaya sobra ko pong naappreciate iyong local officials na tumindig sa atin ngayong gabi, lalong lalo na po dahil nasa Pangasinan sila. Doble ang lakas ng loob ang kanilang ipinamalas," Robredo added.

(A lot of local officials find it difficult to endorse me because it might cost them a lot. That is why I really appreciate the local officials who stood up for me, especially that this is Pangasinan where I lost big in 2016.)

In a production number prepared by the Pangasinan residents, Robredo was portrayed as the modern day warrior Prinsesa Urduja adorned with a sword.

"Pangasinan, ilalaban natin ito, ipapanalo natin ito," Robredo said while holding the sword.

"Itong eleksyon pong ito, hindi lang ito tungkol sa kandidatong gusto natin. Ang dinedesisyunan po rito, pag-uugali ng mga Pilipino. Kapag nasanay po tayo sa bastusan, nagiging bastos na rin tayo," she said.

It ain't over until it's over

Earlier in the day, Robredo shrugged off observations that the race is over as she still trailed Marcos in pre-election surveys by over 30 percentage points.

"If there is one lesson na natutunan ko sa mga eleksyon, it’s not over until it’s over. Nakita natin ito hindi lang noong 2016 noong ako lumaban, pero in 2010 ‘yung halimbawa ‘yung come from behind win ni Vice President Jojo Binay, ganitong-ganito ‘yung sitwasyon noon," she said.

"So, dapat lang na ‘yung mga supporters hindi napapagod na kumayod kasi ‘yung pinakamahalaga sa lahat na nararamdaman nila ‘yung fruits ng kanilang pagod. Ano naman ito, ‘yung mga tao paniniwala ko, if given the chance na mabigyan ng tamang impormasyon, pipiliin nila kung ano ‘yung makabubuti sa kanila," she added.—LDF, GMA News