Vice President and presidential aspirant Leni Robredo on Sunday hit those behind two fake photos that went viral on social media showing that she was selling fish in a public market and that her supporters violated physical distancing at a rally.
She said the questionable photos are fake and badly edited. Robredo said the photos were “obviously done to put us in a bad light. Hindi po tayo magpapatinag (We will not be cowed). Let us report posts like these. Sorry walang link (Sorry, there’s no link). They were only sent to me,” she said.
Senator and vice-presidential candidate Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan meanwhile received a morale boost in his bid for the second-highest seat of the land after his two-day visit in Iloilo.
During the two-day caravan of the Team Robredo-Pangilinan (TROPA), various groups originally formed to back Robredo’s campaign also confirmed their support for Pangilinan’s vice-presidential bid.
According to lawyer Larry Firmeza, a member of the “Ilonggo Lawyers for Leni,” the group will do some grassroots campaigns for both Robredo and Pangilinan.
“We, Ilonggo Lawyers for Leni, have already started our Facebook page. But in the succeeding months, we will go to the grassroots to campaign for Leni and Kiko,” Firmeza said.
“We will go house-to-house, secluded places, hard-to-reach and faraway places and inform other people of the excellent platforms of Leni and Kiko should they be elected,” he said.
Despite the massive machinery of the opponents and murder cases against lawyers, Firmeza’s group remains unfazed, saying there is no time to be afraid.
“You know if you’re going to be scared with whatever, like COVID-19 or the opponents, nothing will happen. We have to take risks because our candidates already did their part and took the risk,” Firmeza said.
Dr. Emily Jardaleza of the “Doctors for Leni” believes that Pangilinan is the most fit candidate for the vice presidency.
“If Leni wins, Kiko will be there for her. I am sure that Kiko will fully support Leni and not give her unnecessary headaches. The role of the vice president is very important, and no other candidate is fit other than Kiko,” she said.
Bikers for Leni’s Jon Dellarmente echoed Jardaleza’s statement, adding that Pangilinan is worthy of support because of his clean track record.
“Thank you for your warm support, Iloilo. You give us strength. You inspire us. You encourage us to fight until we make things right,” Panglinan said.
Despite the strong disinformation and smear campaigns being lodged against him and Vice President Leni Robredo, Pangilinan remains optimistic that people, especially Ilonggos, will choose candidates based on the truth of their political track record.
Pangilinan reminded his supporters to not take a page from the opponent’s playbook. Instead, supporters should echo the “mas radikal ang magmahal” message.
“The avalanche of disinformation is confusing a number of our citizens, and so we must have an avalanche of truth. That’s what we’re supposed to do between now and May. Let the voters know who they should be choosing in terms of real, tangible, concrete achievements in their performance as public servants,” Pangilinan said.
The lawmaker admitted that while the upcoming battle is tiring and challenging, he draws strength from his supporters and the main goal of achieving a better Philippines.
“But why are we doing this? We are doing this for our children because they deserve better – a future wherein there is respect, love, understanding, and compassion, and not a future where there is hate, anger, bitterness, and violence,” Pangilinan said. With Macon Ramos-Araneta
