OpinionsHonest EngagementsWhy Leni Robredo has already won

Why Leni Robredo has already won

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This article is due to be published by May 6, 2022, three days before the national Philippine elections. Despite my namesake, I am not a prophet, nor a son of a prophet. But I will lay down some reasons why I believe Leni Robredo has already won.

First, Leni Robredo had won against BBM in 2016, ala David versus Goliath. Bongbong had more of the traditional advantages behind him: a deep personal war chest, name recognition, the endorsement of the Iglesia ni Cristo voting bloc, and incumbency as a senator then.

Yet, this relatively unknown former Congresswoman was able to beat Bongbong, and even Chiz Escudero, and others.

And Leni Robredo’s profile has only increased in the past six years: exponentially so in the past six months. You have to expect her to come in with greater gusto than in 2016 against the same opponent.

Second, I’ve personally known plenty of folks who were former supporters of Digong who are now supporting Leni Robredo.

Conversely, I have not observed any single one who formerly supported Leni Robredo, and now supporting the BBM-Sara tandem. Inter-candidate movement favors Leni Robredo.

Plenty of Digong’s supporters sincerely believed him to be strong against corruption and crime. These folks will never bend the knee to a Marcos, who is hounded not just by the criminal baggage of his own family, but of those who have teamed up behind him: the Arroyos and the Estradas.

Third, Leni Robredo has had a platform from the beginning that she can articulate clearly and easily.

Meanwhile, Bongbong continues to shoot his own foot by failing to showcase his intellect via public debates that are not hosted or organized by a neutral party. He might just live long enough to regret their strategy of not participating in any of the Comelec debates. While he hopes ever so desperately to pirate from Digong’s hordes of supporters, and has partially succeeded in doing so with the addition of Sara as his running mate, the main man himself continues to insist he supports no presidential candidate.

Plus, the spectre of Digong’s attacks on Bongbong’s character continues to resonate, especially with the President’s support base, diluting their constituency so as not to deliver all of that support to Bongbong on a silver platter.

Fourth, Leni Robredo is very much known to be a pro-poor candidate. She suffers not from the snobbishness or elitism of establishment politicians. And she has always been so, which paid off in her vice-presidential bid in 2016 when people from all over the country, the unheard and the unnoticed, were helped by Leni Robredo in some capacity previously in her own humble ways.

Bongbong, however, is widely known to be the exact opposite, to the point of not even being able to speak his supposed mother tongue. This weakens his so-called solid north, in favor of more accessible and approachable rivals.

Fifth, while Bongbong had the upper-hand in social media electioneering at the beginning of his candidacy, people have become wiser to it these past several months. Dealing with a massive misinformation and disinformation campaign, millions of knowledgeable Filipinos people have sought to correct meme after meme of falsehoods and half-truths, thereby granting the public many a free crash course in anything from politics, history, economics, civics, to even virology.

Now, here’s the real kicker. Even in the event that she loses the election, Leni Robredo still has already won: Her mere candidacy has steered the conscience of the nation towards a better and brighter direction. After six years of moral, intellectual, and political darkness, her poise, transparency, and public compassion have been a beacon for the loftier sides of ourselves.

If she doesn’t get the Presidency, Leni Robredo will continue to be an advocate for others in her capacity as a lawyer and as a person.

Likewise, win or lose, we must all continue to be advocates for others in our own capacities, the day after May 9.

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Author’s email: [email protected]


 

 

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