Presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo has urged her supporters to go beyond answering misinformation online and speak with people who have been duped by fake news.
“Alam po natin ang number one na kalaban natin ngayon, disinformation. Napakaraming fake news, ang amin lang pong pakiusap, nakakatulong naman na sinasagot sila online, ‘wag lang po tayong makikipag-away dahil kapag nakipag-away tayo, wala nang makikinig sa atin,” Robredo said at the People’s Grand Rally in Guingona Park in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte on Wednesday night, March 9.
More than 10,000 people attended the rally to show their support for Robredo.
Robredo has been targeted by disinformation and fake news that have led many to believe that she had done nothing in office. It is, of course, farthest from the truth.
Under Robredo, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) did not only conduct ceremonial functions. For six years, Robredo initiated many poverty alleviation programs in different parts of the country. She also spearheaded pandemic response programs that reached out to those hardest hit by the health crisis.
“Buong anim na taon na nasa Office of the Vice President ako, lahat pong programa namin para sa mahihirap. May eleksyon man o wala. Pag sinabi po namin, aayusin namin ‘yung kalusugan ninyo, may resibo kami. ‘Yung pandemya po, isa ‘yon sa pinaka malaking resibo namin na kulang man ‘yung aming budget, kulang man ‘yung aming mandato, hindi po kami nagkulang sa pag-seserbisyo,”
If elected President, Robredo promised to improve the country’s health care and education systems and to make jobs and housing available to all.
“Aayusin natin ‘yung ating health care, sisiguraduhin natin na hindi magiging sagabal ang kahirapan para mabigyan ‘yung kabataan ng dekalidad na edukasyon, sisiguraduhin natin na may maayos na trabaho lahat, sisiguraduhin natin na maayos ang pabahay ng mga pangangailangan, napakarami. Napakaraming programa, napakaraming pangako,” Robredo said.
At the grand rally, Robredo read her supporters’ placards anew to show her appreciation for their efforts. Their heartfelt messages also continue to inspire her, she said.
“Bakit ko ba binabasa ‘yung mga sinusulat ninyo? Kasi alam niyo, bawat pagkakataon na nakikita ko, na pinagpapaguran niyo talaga ‘yung pagpa-abot ng mensahe, napupuno po ‘yung puso namin kasi alam namin na nandito kayo dahil sa inyong paniniwala,” Robredo said.
The People’s Grand Rally in Butuan was the culminating event of Robredo’s two-day barnstorm in the Caraga Region from March 8 to 9.
She visited the cities of Bislig and Tandag in Surigao del Sur, Surigao City in Surigao del Norte, Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur, and Cabadbadran City and Butuan City in Agusan del Norte.
At the rally, Agusan del Norte First District Representative Lawrence Fortun endorsed Robredo as the next country’s next President.
“Nakasama ko siya sa Kongreso, noong kami ay mga neophyte legislators pa lang and I have observed up close her humility, her modesty, the goodness of her heart her deep love for her country and how hard she works. Testigo po ako, ako po ay resibo,” Fortun said.
