Robredo to supporters: Continue our fight in the midterm elections

MANILA, Philippines — Former Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday called on her supporters not to give up their fight for true and honest governance and encouraged them to sustain their spirit for the 2025 midterm elections.

Robredo made her pronouncement during the kickoff proclamation rally of senatorial candidates Francis Pangilinan and Bam Aquino at the Dasmariñas Arena in Cavite, where she endorsed both for the 2025 polls.

READ: Pangilinan, Aquino kick off campaign in Quezon City

During her speech, Robredo reminisced about her campaign rallies in Cavite back in 2022—when she ran for President along with Pangilinan as her running mate. Despite the mammoth and tsunami-like crowds who flocked her campaign rallies, Robredo lost to now-President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

While she acknowledged how painful it must have been for those who gave their all to campaigning, Robredo reminded them that the fight did not stop there.

“Hindi puwedeng manatili lang tayo sa pagkabigo at paninisi dahil hindi naman natapos ang laban noong 2022. At hindi rin doon natapos ang ating tungkulin bilang mga Pilipino. Hindi tayo puwedeng tumigil,” Robredo said in a speech delivered during the rally.

(We cannot remain stuck in failure and blame because the fight did not end in 2022. Nor did our duty as Filipinos. We cannot stop.)

“Ngayon, nahaharap tayo sa panibagong yugto: ang midterm elections, kung saan may pagkakataon muli tayong palakasin ang ating hanay,” she added.

(Now, we face a new chapter: the midterm elections, where we have the opportunity to once again strengthen our ranks.)

According to Robredo, the past months proved how crucial it is to gradually break the cycle of exploitation against the people, tagging Senator Risa Hontivers as proof of this.

“Pero ‘di ba, mas gagaan ang laban kapag merong kasama. Kaya ang susunod na atas para sa ating lahat: Bigyan natin si Sen. Risa ng mga kaalyado at katuwang. Mga kapwa niyang matitino at mahuhusay na titindig kasama niya sa lahat na laban,” said Robredo, referring to both Pangilinan and Aquino.

(But the fight is easier when they have a partner. So the next task for all of us: Let’s give Sen. Risa allies and partners. Fellow capable people who will stand with her in all the battles.)

“Magagawa natin ito ngayong 2025. Iupo natin sa Senado ang dalawa sa ating pinaka-masigasig na mga kasama,” she added.

(We can do this in 2025. Let’s elect two of our most passionate partners in the Senate.)

Starting with Aquino, Robredo tagged him as a champion of free education and job security.

She herself vouched for Aquino’s competence and dependability, especially with how she trusted him as his campaign manager in the 2016 and 2022 elections.

“Bagamat marami ang mga hamon na ating kinaharap, kampante ako dahil siniguro niya na maayos ang lahat. Ganiyan ang senador na kailangan ng taumbayan: Mahusay at maaasahan,” she said.

(Although there were many challenges we faced, I am confident because he ensured that everything was in order. That is the kind of senator the people need: efficient and reliable.)

Robredo then endorsed her former running mate, Pangilinan—whom she tagged as a dedicated public servant who has unwavering integrity and experience.

She recalled how despite having already finished preparing to run for senator in the 2022 elections, Pangilinan sacrificed his own ambitions just to help her fight for the country.

“Napakabuting tao, honest at maasahang kasangga. Ganiyan ang senador na kailangan natin: ‘Yung sasamahan ka, sa hirap at ginhawa, mula umpisa hanggang sa dulo,” said Robredo.

(A very good person, honest and reliable partner. That’s the kind of senator we need: Someone who will be with you, through thick and thin, from beginning to end.)

In fact, Robredo noted that if qualifications alone were the basis for who should become senator in the 2025 polls, both Pangilinan and Aquino would have won.

With this, Robredo told her supporters to reignite the spirit they had in the 2022 elections and to revive the spirit of volunteerism.

“Muli nating buhayin ang lakas, ang sigla, at ang saya noong nakaraang kampanya dahil hindi pa tapos ang ating laban,” said Robredo.

(Let’s rekindle the energy, the enthusiasm, and the joy of the last campaign because our fight is not over yet.)

Pangilinan and Aquino are seeking to make a comeback in the Senate in this year’s polls.

Pangilinan last served as senator from 2016 to 2022, while Aquino served from 2013 to 2019.