Disregarding their own party affiliation, more than a dozen candidates running for local positions in Olongapo City have crossed party lines to endorse Leni Robredo as their common presidential candidate.
In a meeting organized on Monday by the Solid Leni Pilipinas (SLP) movement, local bets from at least three national political parties pledged their support to Robredo, pointing out that her victory is in the coming polls is the bigger interest at stake.
Among those who came out for the vice president were Olongapo Vice Mayor Jong Cortez, who is seeking reelection as an independent candidate; former Zambales vice governor Anne Gordon, the Liberal Party bet in the mayoralty contest; incumbent city councilor Kaye Ann Legaspi, who is running for another term under Aksyon Demokratiko; and several aspirants for a seat in the Sangguniang Panglunsod.
“Let us forget our personal politics and instead look to a higher calling—that is, to ensure that Vice President Leni wins,” Cortez said during the SLP-Olongapo meeting at the Moonbay Marina in the Subic Bay Freeport.
“This is born of necessity,” Cortez added, referring to their support for Robredo. “We may have our own political parties in the local level, but for VP Leni we should forget our differences and work for the sake of our country.”
Gordon, on the other hand, spoke for the local Liberal Party and expressed the common desire to elect a president who will place above all the interest of people in the grassroots.
“This is not for our personal interest, but for that of the country,” echoed Councilor Legaspi. “I may have a different political party, but I now stand here because of my love for VP Leni.”
In the same meeting, local Diwa Partylist consultant Rowena Quejada pledged her personal support to Robredo despite her portrayal of the character “Mosang” in some social media short films that were critical of Vice President Robredo.
Quejada said that while she had a contract with Vincentiments, which produced the “LenLen” series, she had decided to come out for Robredo. “Hindi ko kayang ipagpalit ang prinsipyo ko—kahit hindi ko na siguro makuha ang bayad ko para sa dalawa pang shooting (I cannot just abandon my principles, even when I may not be able to get my pay anymore for the last two episodes),” she said.
According to SLP-Olongapo coordinator Patrick Escusa, this was the first time in recent history that Olongapo politicians banded together for a common presidential candidate.
Among those who attended the SLP meeting and pledged support for Robredo are Liberal Party candidates for city councilor Cris Tooley Jr., Samuel Balintay Jr., Ed Adolfo, Lyrissa Ordonio, Leng Mapalad, and Josefina Saberon; Aksyon Demokratiko bets Joyce Merza and Ivan Tanega; and independent aspirant Lean Oliva and Tina de Leon.
Escusa said five other certified Robredo supporters running for the city council were not able to attend the SLP-Olongapo meeting due to other commitments. These are incumbent councilor Jerome Bacay and barangay captain Ying Anonat, who are both running under the Nacionalista Party; barangay chief Gilbert Piñero, who is affiliation with the Aksyon Demokratiko team; and independent candidates for councilor Edwin Esposo and Dante Hondo.
Lawyer Angel Orozco, who is the lead convenor of Solid Leni Pilipinas-Olongapo, said they group will continue to reach out to other candidates who support Leni despite their local party affiliation.
“We may come from different political camps, but we have the same choice for a national leader and that is VP Leni. We may have different political views, but we have the same aspiration,” he added. — Taktikom News & Features
