Former and current members of San Beda University, President Rodrigo Duterte’s alma mater, supports Vice President Leni Robredo’s presidential bid.
The group also endorsed Robredo’s running mate, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, for vice president, and not the President’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
Over 300 past and present San Beda educators, non-teaching employees, and service personnel from San Beda’s branches in Manila’s Mendiola, Muntinlupa City’s Alabang and Rizal’s Taytay signed a manifesto of support for the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem.
Their support for the duo is part of their “fervent resolve to be vanguards of truth, justice, integrity and peace as members of the Bedan community,” the group said.
In Sagay City, Negros Occidental, Robredo once again underscored the importance of choosing the right leaders in the coming May 9 elections as the top local executives of vote-rich Negros Occidental backed her presidential bid.
“Sa first-time voters, kahit hindi first-time voters, pangalagaan po natin ‘yung boto natin dahil ‘yan ‘yung kapangyarihan natin. Pag tayo po nagkamali sa eleksyon, magdudusa na naman tayo ng anim na taon,” Robredo said in her stump speech at the people’s rally in Sagay City on Friday morning.
Thousands of Robredo’s supporters gathered at the open-air venue in Sagay, cheering her and her running mate Pangilinan.
The signatories of the San Beda statement of support were Joffree Alajar, ex-chairperson of Accountancy Department and head of Alumni Office; Marvin Reyes, Prefect of Student Activities, and Raf Dolor, former head of the Philosophy Department.
“After a long discernment on the character, platforms, and track records of all the candidates,” the group said they reached the decision to endorse Robredo and Pangilinan, citing the clarion call of Robredo-Pangilinan’s “Gobyernong Tapat, Angat Buhay Lahat” shows the inclusive governance they would uphold if they won the May 9 elections.
“Their standing records of good governance and exemplary public service moved us to support leaders who have a strong sense of transformative and ethical leadership, accountability, transparency and integrity which we need in these trying times,” their statement read.
Before Sagay, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio “Bong” Lacson endorsed Robredo’s bid at an early morning people’s rally in San Carlos City.
“The victory of our candidate is in your hands. This election on May 9, we do not need to listen to our elders. Let us make the decision for ourselves,” Lacson said in Hiligaynon, as he introduced Robredo on stage at the open court at the Bishop’s Compound.
“Our candidate is intelligent. Our candidate is sincere. Our candidate is helpful. And our candidate is trustworthy,” he said as the crowd erupted in cheers to welcome Robredo.
Also at the San Carlos people’s rally were San Carlos Bishop Gerry Alminaza and former Negros Occidental governor Lito Coscolluela.
The province is expected to back Robredo anew, after Negrenses gave her a huge win in the 2016 vice presidential elections where she received almost 600,000 votes.
Negros Occidental District Rep. Leo Rafael “Bebo” Cueva, Sagay City Mayor Alfredo “Thirdy” Marañon III, Cadiz City Mayor Bading Escalante, former Mayor Patrick Escalante, and Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor, Jr. were at the Sagay people’s rally.
They were joined by feisty former elections commissioner Rowena Guanzon. Before she retired, Guanzon had voted for the disqualification of the dictator’s son and namesake, Ferdinand Marcos, from the presidential race.
It was yet again another whole day of barnstorming for the tireless Robredo.
She went to Kabankalan for a people’s rally and visited a community learning hub in Barangay Brgy. Caradio-an in Himamaylan, where some of the parents were teary eyed to see Robredo.
The CLH is a COVID-19 response initiative of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) that helped both parents and student cope with the sudden shift to online classes because of the pandemic.
Tutors, gadgets, internet connection, as well as printing school requirements for available for free at the OVP’s CHLs.
Robredo was also at the Binalbagan Catholic College for a meet and greet with the different sectors from the province’s fifth district.
Later in the afternoon, the presidential candidate’s daughter, Aika and Tricia, joined her at the Hinigaran Public Plaza followed by a rally at the La Carlota City Plaza.
Robredo’s day-long barnstorm of the province will culminate in a grand people’s rally at the Paglaum sports stadium in Bacolod City, where supporters hope to match and perhaps even supersede the warm welcome given by 40,000 counterparts in Iloilo in February, and 47,000 in Cavite in early March.