Leni calls for acceptance of Eleksyon 2022 results, vows campaign vs. lies

Vice President Leni Robredo rallied her supporters to accept the results of the May 9 elections, but made a firm vow to lead the fight against disinformation and lies, which she said robbed the people of truth, history and future.

In a thanksgiving rally with running mate, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan at the Ateneo de Manila University Friday, Robredo also announced the launch in July of the Angat Buhay non-government organization composed mostly of volunteers who run her campaign in the elections.

“Habang lumilinaw ang litrato, kailangan din nating simulan tanggapin na hindi ayon sa mga pangarap natin ang resulta ng eleksyon ito,” Robredo said in a speech before her supporters at a thanksgiving rally in Quezon City.

(As the picture gets clearer, we should start accepting that the results of the elections are far from our dream.)

“Kailangan natin tanggapin ang pasya ng mayorya. Nakikiusap ako sa inyo na  makiisa sa akin dito,” she added.

(We should accept the decision of the majority. I am appealing for you to join me in this.)

Despite the acceptance, Robredo assured her team is also looking into the alleged irregularities reported during the conduct of the May 9 polls. She also vowed to continue fighting the disinformation plaguing the country which the official claimed played a key role in the election results.

“Ang pinakamalaking kalaban ay namamayagpag na bago pa ng panahon ng kampanya dahil dekadang prinoyekto. Matindi at malawak ang makinaryang kayang magpalaganap ng  galit at kasinungalingan. Ninakaw nito ang katotohanan, kaya ninakaw din ang kasaysayan pati na ang kinabukasan,” she said.

(The biggest enemy was already flourishing even before the elections because it was strategized for decades. A strong and broad machinery has been spreading anger and lies. It robbed us of the truth, thus robbing our history and future.)

“Disinformation ang isa sa pinakamalaking kalaban. Sa ngayon maaaring naghari ang makinarya ng kasinungalingan pero tayo lang ang makakasagot kung hanggang kelan ito maghahari. Nasa atin kung tapos na ang laban o kung nagsisimula pa lamang ito,” she said.

(Disinformation is one of our greatest enemies. The machinery strengthening it may win today but it is up to us to tell how long it will reign. It is in our hands to determine if the fight is over or already starting.)

“Itututon ko ang enerhiya ko sa palaban ng kasinungalingan at hinihiling kong samahan ninyo ako rito. Kailangan nating maging isang kilusan na magtatanggol ng katotohanan. Kailangan nating imulat ang mga nakakausap kung paano mapapalaganap ang kasinungalingan. Kung bakit ito pinaniniwalaan at kung sino ang nasa likod nito,” she added.

Robredo and Pangilinan have yet to concede defeat against the tandem of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio who are currently leading the presidential and vice-presidential race, respectively.

As of 2:47 PM on May 13, Robredo has 14,822,051 compared to Marcos' 31,104,175. Pangilinan, meanwhile, received 9,232,883 votes over Duterte-Carpio’s 31,561,948.

Angat Buhay NGO

Robredo, whose office founded the Angat Buhay program, also announced its conversion into a full-fledged non-government organization (NGO) to be launched on July 1.

She appealed to supporters to join the group which she poised to become the “biggest volunteer network in Philippine history.”

“Meron na tayong template nito. Nagawa na natin ito kahit maliit lang ang pondo at makinarya sa tanggapan ng  bise-presidente. Itinulay natin ang mga handang tumulong sa mga nangangailangan ng tulong. Ngayon, mas organisado tayo,” she said. “Napakaraming People’s Council. Napakaraming grupong nabuo mula sa ating hanay. Naipakita natin kung ano ang kaya nating abutin pag tayo ay nag nag-aambagan.”

(We already have a template for this. We already did it even with the small funding and machinery of the office of the Vice-President. We already bridged the help from those who are willing to the needy. Now, we are more organized. We have more People’s Councils. More groups were created from our line. We already demonstrated what we can do if we work together.)

Robredo assured the organization will cater to the marginalized regardless of their political color.

“Sa ganitong paraan lang maisusulong ang mga layuning nagbigkis sa atin — isang bansang makatao, makatotohanan at makatarungan kung saan may pananagutan ang pamahalaan at walang naiiwan sa laylayan,” she added.

(This way, we can continue advocating for the principles we fought for — a country that is humane, truthful, and just where the government has accountability and no one will be left behind.)

Earlier, she announced volunteers from her hometown in Naga City are eyeing to put up a “Pink Museum '' to memorialize her election campaign which was primarily driven by volunteerism.—LDF, GMA News