MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The convergence of different groups coming from various political 鈥榗olors鈥� is what will drive Vice President Leni Robredo鈥檚 presidential candidacy and lead to her victory in the May 2022 general elections, her spokesperson said on Tuesday.
In a statement, lawyer Barry Gutierrez thanked groups previously supporting Manila Mayor Isko Moreno鈥檚 candidacy for switching to Robredo, adding that they agree with the groups鈥� call for unity.
Gutierrez鈥� remarks came after Ikaw Muna (IM) Pilipinas, a group led by former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) head Tim Orbos, announced that they are no longer supporting Moreno and will back Robredo for the upcoming polls.
鈥淣agpapasalamat kami sa tiwala at suporta ng IM Leni. Sang-ayon kami sa kanilang panawagan para sa pagkakaisa; at malaking karangalan na pinili nilang makiisa sa laban ni VP Leni.聽 Sabi nga ni VP Leni, ang ating lakas ay galing sa ating pagsasama sa ngalan ng pag-asa,鈥� Gutierrez said.
鈥淎nd we believe that this coming together in shared hope, regardless of the colors we choose to wear, is what will bring victory, not just for a particular candidate on election day, but for the Filipino people over the next six years,鈥� he added.
Robredo鈥檚 spokesman believes that more groups will join their ranks even with just 27 days remaining before the election day itself.
鈥淲e trust that in the remaining 27 days, even more will join the people鈥檚 campaign, united by their dreams, and hopes, for a better Philippines,鈥� Gutierrez noted.
Orbos in a press conference earlier said they have tried to call on presidential candidates to unite against former senator Bongbong Marcos, who is also seeking the highest office in the land.
So far, he said that only the camps of Robredo and labor leader Leody de Guzman remained open to the idea.
鈥淓xcept for the camps of Leody de Guzman and Vice President Robredo herself, all other candidates have rejected the call of unification,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he Vice President is consistently the second place in the past months and has been on a steady rise with the biggest increase as shown in the latest survey鈥� She is now in the best position to win this for us,鈥� Orbos further said.
This is not the first that a group supportive of Moreno pulled away and shifted to Robredo.聽 Last April 5, the IM Pilipinas 鈥� who also carries Moreno鈥檚 initials 鈥� said that they are now endorsing the Vice President who is doing well in the surveys.
Aside from those coming from Moreno鈥檚 camp, some supporters of Senator Panfilo Lacson led by Partido Reporma president and former speaker Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez also moved over to the Robredo side.
Latest surveys from Pulse Asia showed that while Robredo is still a far second to Marcos, her numbers showed a chance of defeating the frontrunner.聽 During the survey from March 17 to 21, Robredo鈥檚 voter preference share grew by nine percentage points, from 15 percent to 24 percent.
Marcos lost some of his voter share, going down by four percentage points from 60 percent in February to 56 percent in March.