Written by Patricia Marie Reyes
Published May 12, 2022
Photo credit: VP Leni Robredo’s Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo thanked her campaign volunteers and supporters in an early morning statement last May 10, following the partial and unofficial count of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) where she lagged behind rival Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
As of Monday midnight, Marcos Jr. had amassed 26,313,353 votes, while Robredo only had 12,554,852 votes.
“Hindi kayang sukatin ng numero ang lalim ng pagmamahal ninyo. Maraming, maraming salamat sa inyo,” Robredo said.
(Numbers cannot measure the depth of your love. Thank you very much to all of you.)
Robredo also mentioned they are aware of the irregularities during the May 9 elections. Reports of broken vote-counting machines (VCMs) with voters waiting for hours to vote happened during the election period.
“Kaisa ninyo ako sa paniniwala na kailangan isalamin ng halalan ang buo at wastong tinig ng taumbayan. Mahalagang maging mas matibay ang tiwala ng tao sa proseso ng ating demokrasya,” Robredo said. “Gagawin natin ang lahat para maabot ang layuning ito.”
(I am one with you in the belief that there is a need for the elections to mirror the entirety and the accurate voice of the people. It is important that the people’s trust in the process of democracy should be strengthened. We will do everything to achieve this purpose.)
However, though Robredo was not conceding, she mentioned about the voters’ voice “becoming clearer” and how her supporters should listen to this voice.
“Sa ngalan ng Pilipinas na alam kong mahal na mahal rin ninyo, kailangan nating pakinggan ang tinig na ito, dahil sa huli, iisa lang ang bayang pinagsasaluhan natin,“ Robredo said.
(In the name of the Philippines, which I know that you also love, we need to listen to this voice because, in the end, we only share one nation.)
Robredo asked her supporters to reflect on their campaign journey, from starting with no resources until the “bayanihan” (cooperative undertaking) spread. According to Robredo, the campaign that they established has only just begun.
“Maging panatag sa inyong ambag: May nasimulan tayong hindi pa kailanman nasaksihan sa buong kasaysayan ng bansa,” Robredo said. “Isang kampanyang pinamunuan ng taumbayan.”
(Be assured in your contribution: We have started something that has never been witnessed before in the entire history of the country. A campaign led by the people.)
Robredo asked her supporters for help in upholding justice, rights, and the dignity of the Filipinos in the coming years.
“Patuloy tayong magmahal,” Robredo said. “Maaaring hindi ngayon, maaaring hindi bukas o sa makalawa o sa susunod na taon, pero may liwanag pa ring nag-aabang basta’t handa tayong magsikap na abutin ito.”
(Let us continue to love. It might not be today, it might not be tomorrow or the next day or year, but there is light that awaits as long as we work hard to attain it.)
A thanksgiving event for the Robredo and Senator Kiko Pangilinan tandem supporters will be held on May 13 at the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon City.
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