By Deighton Acuin

PHOTO: Philippine Daily Inquirer

For Vice President Leni Robredo, true unity comes from destroying the old and rotten system and pushing for an honest government in the country.

“Dito nagbubukal ang totoong unity; ito ang totoong pagkakaisa—pagkakaisang babaklas sa luma at bulok na sistema, at magsusulong ng gobyernong tapat, na mag-aangat sa buhay ng lahat,” Robredo said during a grand rally in Bacolod City.

Another record-breaking number for a single campaign sortie has been set as 70,000 Leni-Kiko supporters have shown full force for the presidential and vice presidential bids of Robredo and Senator Kiko Pangilinan. With this, it has beaten the count of General Trias, Cavite sortie with 47,000 and Bulacan’s 45,000.

Held in Paglaum Stadium, Robredo said that the stadium’s name, which means hope, is showing people’s aspirations. She also added that the momentum of her campaign is only getting stronger as the 2022 national election nears.

“Parami nang parami ang sumasama sa ating hanay, palalim nang palalim ang pagtataya sa ating laban," Robredo said. "Galingan pa natin ang pakikipaglaban, para sa tama at totoo,” the incumbent vice president added.

Guanzon endorses Robredo, jabs Marcos: “Boboto kayo sa tax evader?”

In a separate rally in Sagay, Negros Occidental, former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Rowena Guanzon showed her full support for the tandem as she endorsed Robredo and Pangilinan to her fellow Negrenses in the upcoming elections, while throwing yet another punch for former senator Bongbong Marcos.

“Boboto ba kayo sa magnanakaw? Boboto ba kayo sa pangit? Boboto kayo sa sinungaling? Boboto kayo sa magnanakaw? Boboto kayo sa tax evader?” Guanzon asked the crowd.

The crowd, with an estimate of 8,000, disagreed with Guanzon’s question.

The retiree also remembered the imposition of Martial Law by late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr, which was considered as the darkest chapters in the country after having had 70,000 imprisoned people, 34,000 tortured, and 3,240 killed, according to the data of Amnesty International: “Gusto n’yo ng martial law? Gusto mo ng martial law? Ayaw ko na! Never again, never again!”

After hyping up the crowd, Rowena’s sister, former court judge Frances Guanzon spoke to the media and confirmed that their whole family is backing Robredo’s candidacy.

“Yes, actually, our whole family is supporting the Leni-Kiko tandem, full support… Siya lang naman yata ‘yung deserving na maging president, qualification-wise,” Frances said.


Edited by: Phylline Calubayan