Robredo confident of repeat win in Cebu province

CEBU, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo is optimistic Cebu province will give her a victory in the May 9, 2022 presidential elections, just as it did for her in the 2016 vice presidential race.

Cebu, one of the country’s most vote-rich provinces, is a battleground for Robredo and archrival, Ferdinando Marcos Jr., the late dictator’s son and namesake. 

“Ako, very optimistic ako,” Robredo told the media in Bogo City, Cebu when asked what she thought of her chances of winning in Cebu. 

“Yung volunteerism na nakikita ko sa Cebu ngayon, wala ito noong 2016. ‘Yung mga local officials naman na tumulong sa atin in 2016, kasama pa rin natin.”

Robredo added: “[U]nprecedented ‘yung passion na pinapakita ng mga volunteers, and nakakagulat kasi even in places as far away as Bantayan, very active ‘yung mga volunteer groups.”

She visited Bantayan Island early morning on Thursday, April 21, with her supporters starting their day with the “LaBantayan People's Rally” held at the Bantayan Plaza.

Robredo promised them that if she is elected President, she would bring and improve essential services in hard-to-reach areas just like their hometown. She mentioned her conversation with a doctor, just before she stepped on the stage at the rally, who told her that healthcare was very difficult to access because the island was simply too far.  

"Yung pinapangako po namin sa inyo, lalo kayong malayo sa sentro, lalo kayong bibigyan ng tulong. Lalo po kayong malayo, sisiguraduhin natin na kung ano 'yung mga serbisyo na available doon sa mga nasa sentro, available din dito sa inyo,” she said. 

As Vice President, Robredo made sure that development projects, often done in partnership with the private sector, reached the farthest and poorest municipalities in the country. 

Robredo is a frequent visitor to Cebu and the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) Angat Buhay program has several projects in the province, including a mental health facility in Bogo City. When typhoons hit the province, the OVP was among the first government agencies to have people on the ground to attend to evacuees and bring aid.

When Typhoon Odette lashed at Cebu in December 2021, Robredo went to the province to personally check on what the people needed.

“Bawat bagyo, bawat sunog, nagkakaroon po tayo ng relief operations. Noong dumating po ‘yung pandemic na grabe ‘yung mga kaso dito sa Cebu, nagpapababa po tayo ng permanent team dito, naglagay po tayo ng shuttle buses, nagbigay po tayo ng mga dormitories na libre para sa mga frontliners, marami po tayong ginawa,” Robredo said. 

Bogo City police said at least 5,000 supporters attended the people’s rally. Robredo’s supporters surprised her with an early birthday celebration, gifting her with a pink cake and they all sang “Happy Birthday”. 

The Vice President will celebrate her 57th birthday on April 23. 

From Bogo, Robredo headed to Danao City, where she met with Mayor Ramon Durano III and joined another people’s rally.

Robredo capped her day-long visit to Cebu with the “Ceboom! Grand People’s Rally 2.0” at the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City.

Organizers estimated the crowd at 250,000. 

No untoward incident

The Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) said the Ceboom grand rally concluded with zero crime incidents, albeit 95 individuals collapsed during the event. 

"So far, very peaceful and successful atong pag-monitor sa maong incident,gani we have zero-crime incident except naa lang tay natala na responses sa medical team nato,95 niini nakuyapan tungod sa kainit ug sa exhaustion," said MCPO's Deputy City Director for Operations, Franco Oriol. 

Up to 739 security personnel were deployed to the event venue. 

"Combined na na sya from MCPO, Philippine army,sa CDRRMO, force multipliers,and traffic enforcers,multi-agency na na sya," Oriol said. 

Oriol also said that the traffic situation was managed well throughout the event. 

Visits

Robredo has said she makes sure that she would visit those who are unable to join the massive gatherings.

“Hindi kami nakukuntento na isang malakihang rally lang ‘yung gagawin, kasi ‘yung malakihang rally, ok lang doon sa kayang magbiyahe papuntang Cebu o Mandaue. Pero para sa inyong mga hindi naba-biyahe, gusto rin naming kayong makita,” Robredo said in Bogo City. The crowd cheered.

Robredo vowed that if she wins the presidency, her administration will be one that serves all Filipinos and will listen to and empathize with the people. 

"Yung pamamahala pong pinaniniwalaan natin, dapat 'yung mga lingkod-bayan, siya 'yung pumupunta sa tao," she said, adding, "[D]ahil pag 'yung mga lingkod-bayan hindi sinasadya 'yung mga tao, lalo na po sa mga malalayong lugar, hindi niya mararamdaman 'yung kahirapan na pinagdadaanan ninyo." 

As a volunteer lawyer, Robredo has visited far-flung areas when she worked for non-government organizations (NGO) such as the Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN).