Leni: ‘Otso Diretso’ to get huge support from Cebu

CEBU, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo is confident that the opposition coalition’s senate slate “Otso Diretso” can convince more Cebu voters to elect them in the May midterm elections.

She was quick to point out that she is also being realistic considering the current challenges.

“We are realistic in the sense that, one, we know for a fact that of the eight candidates, parang dalawa lang iyong kilalang kilala. We still need to exert a lot of effort in introducing the others… Two, we cannot depend on many local officials like we used to. Kasi iyon naman iyong reality ng Philippine politics, whichever is the party of the president, almost everyone is there,” she told local media on Wednesday.

She faced the media for a press conference for this year’s film festival – Istorya ng Pag-asa –a project under the Office of the Vice President.

She is in Cebu for a two-day visit.

Robredo, who earlier vowed to campaign strongly for the opposition coalition's slate, is leading the “Otso Diretso” in the senatorial race.

She said though there are lesser local candidates under the coalition, this does not hinder the candidates from gathering more Cebuano voters.

“We’re also very optimistic. We know that it will require greater effort on our part to introduce our candidates. We are confident that we’re offering the best, the brightest, and the most capable of the senatorial candidates. The main struggle really is awareness. The main struggle is that they are not popular. So if we are given the opportunity to show people who they are, we are confident that we will be able to muster the support that we expect to muster,” she said.

People’s movement

"We’re fired up, we’re optimistic. We know it’s difficult, pero it doesn’t bother us that we don’t have a lot of local officials na kakampi because we... are hoping that it is going to be a people’s movement," she said further.

Robredo said the first week of the campaigning has been encouraging because supporters themselves offered help to come up with campaign collaterals.

She said it is also easy for them to promote the candidates for people to know of their achievements and advocacies because of the online platform, and also their candidates have a strong appeal to the youth.

"Hindi mahirap ibenta iyong aming kandidato. Kahit hindi mga kilala, hindi mahirap ibenta, in the sense that madali na iyong information ngayon, online. Kapag Ginoogle mo na iyong pangalan ni, say, Atty. Chel Diokno, makikita mo na nasaan ba siya before the campaign, ano ba iyong mga tinayuan niya before the campaign, what kind of a person is he, ano iyong mga values—ano iyong mga advocacies, ano iyong mga values? So it’s so much easier now," she said.

She added that what makes a strong alliance is not measured by numbers but by commitment.

She said many from the Liberal Party have transferred to another political party but some in Cebu like Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III remained committed and stayed.

Free College

Meanwhile, students now have a chance to have a better life, with the implementation of the free college law, according to its principal sponsor Senator Bam Aquino.

“Sinasabi ko sa mga magulang, ngayon po, kahit kapos, makapagtatapos na. Ang libreng kolehiyo ay susi sa mas magandang trabaho at susi sa magandang buhay na hinahanap nating lahat,” Aquino told the crowd during a multi-sectoral event in Dumanjug town yesterday.

The event was attended by local officials headed by Dumanjug Mayor Guntrano Gica, students, youth, women and senior citizens, who also vouched their support for Aquino’s reelection bid.

Aquino, who has passed 35 laws since 2013, pushed for the passage of the free college law as principal sponsor during his time as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.

Republic Act 10931 provides free tuition and miscellaneous fees to students in state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs) and TESDA-run vocational schools.

After working for the passage of the free college law, Aquino has committed to work to ensure that all graduates will have jobs waiting for them.

“Ngayon na mas madali nang maka-graduate, sisiguruhin nating na mas madali nang makakuha ng trabaho ang ating mga graduate,” Aquino said.

Aquino also asked the crowd to support him and the other members of the “Otso Diretso” slate that include Congressman Gary Alejano, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, Samira Gutoc, lawyer Romy Macalintal, former Congressman Erin Tanada and former senator Mar Roxas.

“Ang Otso Diretso ang tututok sa pangangailangan at kapakanan ng taumbayan,” Aquino said.

After his visit in Dumanjug, Aquino also visited the Carcar City Public Market and shook hands and had selfies with the people.

He also tasted its famous lechon which he described as "very delicious".

Then Aquino proceeded to Naga City Hall for a meet and greet with the employees and courtesy call with Mayor Christine Chiong. (FREEMAN)