BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The arrival of Vice President Leni Robredo, who is running for president in the May next year elections, was welcomed yesterday by almost 5,000 Negrenses who participated in the stationary caravan involving more than 1,000 vehicles of different sizes along a 10-kilometer stretch of highway from the Ruins in Talisay to the Bacolod-Silay Airport.
Robredo, who was accompanied by her running mate, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, yesterday said that she was overwhelmed by the huge support she got from Negrosanons.
The standing caravan was organized by different volunteer groups, who also manifested their support to the tandem of Robredo and Pangilinan.
Robredo admitted that she never experienced such a welcome and boastful support she got from the people of Negros Occidental since 2016.
While she won more than 600,00 votes against her closest opponent in the vice-presidential race during the 2016 elections in Negros Occidental, Robredo said “in every elections, I am never confident”
In every elections, for me, I am not entitled to anything that I won’t work hard for. The share number of votes I got in Negros was a big blessing. But I worked very hard for it,” she stressed.
It will be the same in this election, Robredo vowed.
My return to Negros is to show to the people that I have not reneged on my promises that myself committed to in 2016, she said.
Robredo still hopes that she will not only duplicate that feat, but to gain more votes in the next year elections.
The reason why I am hopeful now, Robredo said, is that people are so invested. This is not an ordinary support, it’s as if people are looking at the 2022 elections as their “personal fight,” she said.
If we are able to sustain this level of energy and passion, we will have a very good chance at, Robredo said, apparently referring to her chances of winning the presidency.
On the other hand, Robredo and Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson also signed for a fund transfer of P500,000 to Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, which shall be used for providing medical assistance to eligible clients through medical assistance grants.
The MOA was signed in the presence of Sen. Pangilinan, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, TLJPH chief Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, and Hospital Operations Department head Dr. Girlie Pinongan, among others.
Robredo also paid a courtesy call on Bishop Patricio Buzon and Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia.*
