Vice President Leni Robredo’s presidential bid received further boost yesterday as four former senators and 12 retired senior government officials endorsed her bid and urged the Filipino electorate to vote for her as the next President of the country.
The endorsers included former Senator and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Rodolfo Biazon, Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Sergio Osmeña III, and Wigberto “Bobby” Tañada, along with other senior lawmakers, Cabinet secretaries, and heads of government agencies and government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs).
“We strongly believe that VP Leni is the most qualified and trustworthy presidential candidate who has the political will to rebuild our sordid past, engender hope and inspiration among our people regardless of social standing, and bring about change that has long eluded us,” they said in a statement.
The signatories also cited Robredo’s fearless, action-oriented, inclusive, and decisive leadership, adding that the country needs a leader “who puts great premium on transparency, accountability, and collaboration.”
The statement also specified the timely, efficient, and innovative implementation of Robredo’s pandemic response plan, which included the Vaccine Express, the free testing Swab Cab service, and the Bayanihan E-Konsulta telemedicine platform.
The endorsement is the latest in a series of declarations of support from various sectors in the past weeks that include a group of more than 600 Catholic bishops, priests, deacons, and nuns; more than 100 artists including National Artist Ben Cab; 137 economists, including several ex-NEDA chiefs; over 200 former officers and staff of various United Nations agencies; and women indigenous people leaders.
Former Cabinet members and retired military officials from the administrations of former President Fidel Ramos and the late former President Benigno Aquino III have also endorsed Robredo’s presidential bid.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Election has yet to rule on Robredo’s request to let her office continue its pandemic-response programs during the campaign period.
Acting Comelec Chairperson Soccoro Inting said the request has already been raffled to a ponente.
The OVP suspended its pandemic initiatives beginning Feb. 8, the start of the campaign period.
Under Section 13 of the Comelec’s Resolution 10747, candidates are required to secure a certificate of exception for “projects, activities, and programs pertaining to social welfare projects and services.”
The ban on the release, disbursement, or expenditures of public funds is from March 25 until May 8, as per the Omnibus Election Code.
