Naga City (CNN Philippines) — After declaring her vice-presidential bid in Manila, Rep. Leni Robredo came home to Camarines Sur on Wednesday (October 7).
Robredo said she needed to personally convey to her constituents her decision to seek higher office in 2016.
She might be running for vice-president, but for Robredo, the work in her district was far from over.
In the next few months she will have to juggle her time being in Congress, looking after her daughters and running a national campaign.
But there at least two things she would need to take care of — if she wants a successful campaign next year.
First would be how to improve her ratings in surveys.
“Hindi pa talaga ako kilala, lalo na sa Visayas at Mindanao. Kailangan ko mas masipag mag-ikot,” Robredo said.
[Translation: “Many still don’t know me especially in the Visayas and Mindanao. I need to make the rounds more.”]
Robredo admitted so much time had been lost especially since other possible candidates had been going around the country.
She was set to meet with strategists of the Liberal Party (LP) within the week, to discuss her own plans.
But if she could have her way, she would prefer meeting supporters in small groups, at town hall-type meetings, so they can have serious discussions.
Second, Robredo was also concerned about the resources available to her.
She would have to discuss with LP leaders the nuts and bolts of her political machinery. She also wanted consultations on setting limits to campaign contributions.
“Hindi ako tatanggap from anyone na may interes, ibig sabihin may pwedeng hingin sa akin.”
[Translation: “I will not accept (contributions) from those with vested interests, meaning those with strings attached.”]
She was getting overwhelming support from individual volunteers, who had begun to sign up on her website.
But even before she could get her feet wet preparing for the elections, Robredo was already getting a taste of the ugly side of a national campaign.
A malicious Facebook post had been circulating, quoting a supposed statement Robredo made following a controversial LP gathering in Laguna. That statement — the entire post — she said, was a lie.
“May lumabas na picture ko na sinasabi ko daw ay, there was nothing wrong with it. Kabaligtaran, nakakalungkot lang kasi yung pulitika natin ay ganon kadumi, kasinungaling. Pero handa tayo dun.”
[Translation: “My picture was posted saying I was okay with it (Playgirls dance issue). That’s not true. It’s so sad that politics is so dirty but we are ready for that.”]
