Fight the lies, Leni asks voters

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OPPOSITION presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo yesterday asked voters to urge their friends and families not to waste the 2022 national elections and to elect the right leaders for their own future.

Campaigning in Iligan City in Lanao del Norte, Robredo asked the crowd during a rally to stand with her in fighting fake news and disinformation, saying the people should never allow lies to win elections.

“We still have 75 days to go before Election Day. Everyone has an assignment: Fight the lies. It’s one of the difficulties we’re facing,” she said in Filipino.

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“Let’s spread the message of righteousness to our acquaintances, families, classmates and friends. Make them understand that we should not waste this elections,” she also said.

Robredo was accompanied in Iligan City by Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman, former mayor Lawrence Cruz, and other local officials.

Manila Mayor and Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said Willie Ong will remain his running mate despite the move of some groups pairing him with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio who is running with former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

The Marcos camp said the son of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr. got the support of former Kalibo Mayor and Aklan gubernatorial aspirant William Lachica, a nephew of the late Jaime Cardinal Sin who was a key figure during the “People Power EDSA revolution” that toppled the Marcos dictatorship in the 80s.

The camp, in a statement, quoted Lachica as saying that if his uncle is still alive, he would support unity, which is what Marcos is pushing for, instead of discord.

Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, who is also seeking the presidency, campaigned in Barangay Sta. Ana in Pateros town, where he met with fire victims, aid beneficiaries, trike drivers and volunteer watchmen.

Barangay captain Venancio Santiago told the crowd that Pacquiao has pledged to donate P100,000 as assistance to the fire victims but the senator was quick to say that the money will be donated by a “friend” since candidates are prohibited from distributing cash which is considered vote-buying.

PEOPLE’S FIGHT

Robredo, who has been fighting alleged attempts at historical revisionism by supporters of her biggest rival, Marcos, said it is important to make the people understand that the search for good governance is not her fight alone but of everyone.

At another event, Robredo said she gets over personal attacks and fake news by thinking that it is nothing compared to what she had to go through when her husband former interior secretary Jesse Robredo died in 2012.

“‘I’ve been through a lot of difficulties. Every time there’s a new challenge, I always ask myself if it’s harder than Jess’ death),” she said in Filipino at chef Myke Sarthou’s vlog. “My answer has always been no. I always tell myself this is noting because I’ve been through worse.”

Robredo, who shared the blog on her Facebook account, said she is not affected by personal online tirades, but admitted that sometimes, she is triggered by attacks against her late husband and her daughters.

Sarthiu, an award-winning chef and author who is more popularly known as “Chef Tatung,” expressed admiration for Robredo, saying her journey has given him the strength and courage to get through various challenges in life.

At the end of the vlog, Sarthiu, gave Robredo copies of three books he authored.
Meanwhile, an election survey conducted by the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) showed Robredo widening her lead over Marcos.

The 2nd 2022 National Elections Pulse Google Survey showed Robredo got the majority of votes with 52.57 percent or 1,624 votes, while Marcos got 24.54 percent or 758 votes.

Moreno had 9.61 percent, Panfilo Lacson 3.53 percent, Pacquiao 0.87 percent, and Leody de Guzman with 0.26 percent.

“In all age groups, Robredo got the highest number of votes; while, across designations, she led among school heads/administrators, teaching personnel, non-teaching personnel, and other designation,” said the CEAP Research Unit in a statement.

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“The two remaining designations, which are the students and alumni, have the highest votes for Marcos,” it added.

Eleven regions went for Robredo. These are the National Capital Region, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Cordillera Administrative Region.

Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, and Caraga chose Marcos.

CEAP said the survey was conducted from January 24 to February 4, done at the height of issues at the Commission on Elections regarding petitions to disqualify Marcos. It had 3,089 respondents.

The first survey showed Robredo with 45.16 percent of the votes while Marcos had 20.86 percent. It was conducted right before the deadline of the filing of candidacy in October 2021.

‘NO MATTER WHAT’

Moreno’s statement about keeping Ong followed speculation he is ditching as his running mate as Ong was absent party’s three-day sortie in Mindanao that took the party to Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato.

“Both of us face an uphill battle but no matter what, Isko-Doc Willie will remain,” he said.
In Maguindanao, local officials led by Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, who is seeking to reclaim the gubernatorial post, are supporting the “ISSA” tandem or Moreno for president and Duterte-Carpio for vice president.

The Mangudadatus rolled out the red carpet for Moreno, accompanying him on motorcades around the province and in Cotabato city and ensuring the attendance of thousands in a rally in Buluan, Maguindanao where the Manila mayor spoke.

Moreno said Ong did not join him in the Mindanao sorties because he did not want to put his partner on the spot by campaigning in an area that already has a preferred vice presidential candidate.

Ong, in a video statement uploaded on his Facebook page, said he remains ‘focused’ on his campaign.

He also said he does not harbor ill feeling towards those who are pushing for a Moreno-Sara tandem.

UNITY

Lachica is a former member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition. He joined Marcos’ Partido Federal ng Pilipinas on the belief that the younger Marcos would continue what his father started.

“Naniniwala akong ipagpapatuloy ni Bongbong ang mga nasimulan ng kaniyang ama. Para sa aming pamilya, napakalaking bagay na nakikita namin siyang nagpapakumbaba at umiiwas sa mapanira at mapagwatak-watak na pulitika (I believe that Bongbong will continue what his father started. For my family, it is a big thing to see him humbling himself, avoiding mudslinging and divisive politics),” the Marcos camp statement said.

Marcos and Duterte-Carpio, during the birthday celebration of Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda on Monday night, called for unity even after the elections are over.

“After the election, all public officials should take our countrymen and constituents and herd them towards a the direction that will promote the progress and development of the country),” Duterte-Carpio said in Filipino.

She said unity is vital in continuing the infrastructure development program and the fight against criminality and illegal drugs that her father, President Duterte, has started.

Marcos and Duterte-Carpio were joined by UniTeam senatorial candidates Mark Villar, Gibo Teodoro, Loren Legarda, Migz Zubiri and Jinggoy Estrada.

They also attended a meeting with barangay captains of Pampanga and met with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Also present in the event were Teodoro, Estrada, Zubiri, Harry Roque, Robin Padilla, and Tingog Partylist third nominee Karla Estrada.

On Tuesday, Duterte-Carpio called for equal enforcement as she reiterated her commitment to sustain the fight to eradicate criminality and illegal drugs if she wins.

In Batangas City yesterday, she said she wants to manage the problems of criminality and illegal drugs the way she handled Davao City.

Duterte-Carpio, meanwhile, explained that she and Marcos decided to conduct sorties separately to cover more areas in the country.

TUCP ASSAILED

The Nagkaisa Labor Coalition yesterday assailed the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) over its decision to endorse the Marcos-Duterte Carpio tandem.

Nagkaisa is part of the coalition of labor leaders backing Robredo and running mate Sen. Francis Pangilinan.

“All labor unions have the greater responsibility of advancing the democratic struggle of the working class. Was TUCP’s choice in line with that spirit? We don’t think so,” Nagkaisa said in a statement.

“What is apparent to us is that the TUCP simply went back to its original form — the protection of its parochial interest,” it said.

Nagkaisa also said Robredo and Pangilinan signed a covenant containing the labor agenda of workers, and made them part of their platform for good governance.

The TUCP has said the pick was made by a majority of workers working in major industries, such as service, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors located in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

PEOPLE POWER

Bishop Pablo David, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, asked the faithful to go for candidates who will make sure that the spirit of the People Power will stay alive.

In an online voter education forum organized by Democracy Watch, David said one of the criteria that voters should look for in candidates is the capacity to maintain democracy that was restored during the 1986 EDSA Revolution.

“We must choose the candidates that can maintain and strengthen democracy in the country, follow the law, and respect the rights and dignity of every person,” he said. “Let us vote for candidates that know how to listen to the cries of his people, especially the poor.”

David said the preferred candidates must also be pro-God, pro-people, pro-country, pro-environment, and pro-life.

He also urged the people to vote according to their conscience, and be open to listen to the opinion of others.

Other criteria laid down by the Caloocan prelate are for candidates who can protect the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea, as well as continue the peace negotiations with rebel groups.

David also said the people should go for candidates who can eliminate graft and corruption in government, and those who can end illegal gambling, illegal drugs trade, illegal logging, and illegal mining.

The CBCP is expected to issue a pastoral statement on the forthcoming elections by the end of February. — With Ashzel Hachero, Jocelyn Montemayor, and Gerard Naval

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