Leni working harder for Otso Diretso bets

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo vowed yesterday to work harder to convince the people to vote for the “deserving” Otso Diretso senatorial candidates.

Robredo made the statement yesterday in reaction to a Pulse Asia survey released on Thursday showing none of the opposition bets making it to the so-called Magic 12.

The Vice President said she has no regrets pushing for the inclusion of unpopular names in the opposition slate.

Of the eight candidates, only former senator Mar Roxas and reelectionist Bam Aquino could be considered nationally prominent.

The other six candidates of the slate are former solicitor general Florin Hilbay, former Quezon representative Erin Tañada, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal and Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc.

She said the country would be “short-changed” if the group followed the usual track of fielding popular candidates to ensure victory.

“Popularity should be at the lower end of the spectrum. Let’s put up relatively unknown (bets) and work hard to introduce them to the people,” Robredo said in an interview in Romblon.

“We looked for the righteous, competent and principled candidates,” she said.

While they lack the resources for TV advertisements, Robredo said she and the Otso Diretso bets go directly to the people in different parts of the country.

“We don’t have funds so we really have to work hard. I’m like a candidate, I also go around the country (to campaign for them),” she added.

She said she remained unfazed by their candidates’ poor ratings in senatorial polls with the elections just one month away.

“Because I believe at the end of the day the people will be the one to decide based on their conscience,” she said.