Robredo says supporters' harassment bolsters their resolve (Sabong News)
Author
Betheena Unite
Date
APRIL 08 2022
Challenges such as transportation woes in attending Vice President Leni Robredo’s campaign rallies will only bolster the supporters’ resolve to rally behind the presidential candidate.
This was how Robredo responded when sought for reaction on the reported harassment of her supporters in Pangasinan, as well as on the cancellation of bus trips ahead of the Talindeg Pangasinan!: Pangasinan People’s Rally on Friday, April 8.
“Hindi ito first time na nangyari. Hindi siya first time na nangyari na naha-harass yung ating supporters (This is not the first time it happened. This is not the first time that our supporters are harassed),” Robredo said.
“Hindi din first time nangyari na pinapahirapan lalo na ‘pag may rallies tayo (This is also not the first time that they are having a hard time, especially when we have rallies),” she added.
Such challenges only boost her supporters’, dubbed “kakampinks,” desire to join her rallies, she said.
“[Y]ung nakita natin kasi sa ibang mga lugar, noong ginawa ito lalong nanggigil yung mga supporters. Lalong naging desidido na ipakita ‘yung kanilang suporta (What we saw in other places, when they did this, it only bolstered the courage of our supporters. It only made them more determined to show their support),” Robredo further said.
The same incident happened during the aspiring president’s rally in
last March 11.
Due to the cancellation of chartered trips to Bacolod City ahead of the grand rally there, supporters volunteered to arrange transportation service for supporters coming from distant towns.
Meanwhile, the Vice President expressed hopes that her chances in Pangasinan, where she “lost miserably” in 2016, have improved.
She said the reception she is getting now in Pangasinan is far better compared to 2016.
“Yung (in) 2016, I lost miserably in Pangasinan. Ngayon na 2022, mas hopeful ako. Mas hopeful ako kasi itong– yung mga volunteers na nagse-self organize dito, yung mga volunteers na walang pagod talaga na nagi-ikot, yung active involvement ng napakaraming sector, wala ito noon, e (Now in 2022, I am more hopeful. I am more hopeful because the volunteers are self organizing, going around, and are actively involved in many sectors. There’s nothing like this before),” Robredo said.
“So, sa akin mas hopeful ako ngayon na mas mataas yung numbers na makukuha ko (for me, I am more hopeful now that I have higher numbers),” she added.
The opposition leader only secured over 200,000 votes in 2016 against her rival Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos’ more than 800,000 votes.
