Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday, March 18, capped her four-day barnstorm across Central Mindanao, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and the Zamboanga Peninsula with a people’s rally at Plaza Luz in Pagadian City organized by her supporters from all over Zamboanga del Sur.
Robredo brought the message of clean and competent governance to replace the old system of transactional patronage politics, but said that it can only happen with the support of the people who want the change.
“Marami po tayong kahilingan na pagbabago pero pag hindi po natin binago ‘yung mga pinipili natin, wala din po tayong aasahan,” Robredo told the crowd in Pagadian.
The Vice President said that unity is important, but it should be the unity of the people to achieve the desired goals for everyone.
“Pero po sa atin, ang pagkakaisa, hindi pagkakaisa ng mga politiko na may kanya-kanyang agenda. Ang pagkakaisa, pagkakaisa ng lahat na mga Pilipino na merong pag-ako ng responsibilidad na bahagi sila ng solusyon sa ating mga problema,” said Robredo.
Under a Robredo administration, she said, areas that need assistance the most will be prioritized and help will not be based on patronage politics.
“[H]indi natin tinitingnan kung sino ‘yung tumulong, sino ‘yung hindi. Ang basehan lang po natin, saaan puwedeng makatulong ‘yung aming opisina? Napakaganda sana noong politika dito sa atin,” said Robredo.
Zamboanga del Sur, one of the poorest provinces in the country, is a recipient of several Angat Buhay projects of the Office of the Vice President (OVP). It did not matter if Robredo did not get the most votes in the province in the 2016 vice presidential elections.
As she went around Mindanao, Robredo promised a more personal approach to governance, to be always physically present wherever she is needed.
The presidential aspirant also committed to solving the peace and security issues of Mindanao by addressing its root causes through a whole of nation approach and ensuring local governments get the maximum benefit from the Mandanas ruling. (VP Leni Media Bureau)
