Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 9) — Presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday secured more endorsements, this time from an ally of the Duterte family and a former chief justice.
Fellow Bicolano politician Joey Salceda said he believes the lone female presidential candidate is the best person for the country’s economy.
“I think she is — among all presidential candidates,” the Albay representative told reporters. “I’m not endorsing her because she’s from Bicol, I’m endorsing her because she’s good for the Philippine economy.”
Salceda also underscored Robredo’s “genuine compassion for the poor” and good governance, particularly highlighting her office’s use of scarce government resources.
He also believes Robredo has the potential to unify Filipinos “especially in times that we need to make sacrifices for the sake of nation building.”
However, Salceda — a close friend of vice presidential bet Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte — was mum about his choice for vice president. Last year, the lawmaker claimed Mayor Duterte was surely going to vie for the country’s highest post when she decided to drop her reelection bid.
Meanwhile, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. expressed his all-out support for the tandem of Robredo and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan.
The 86-year-old retired magistrate, an appointee of the late President Corazon Aquino, said only Robredo and Pangilinan have presented achievable programs that would lift up the country and Filipinos “from years of stagnation and decay because of corruption and greed, incompetence, poor governance and failure of accountability.”
“Combined, of the candidates for president only Leni, and of the candidates for vice president, only Kiko, possess the spiritual, intellectual, ethical moral, and social values and virtues demanded of an authentic public servant or servant- leader,” Davide said in an open letter.
