OUT of 15 candidates of the Grupo Progreso (GP), a local coalition in Bacolod City led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia, eight have endorsed the presidential bid of Vice President Ma. Leonor "Leni" Robredo at the Grand Pavilion of Acacia Hotel Bacolod on Tuesday, May 3.
The GP candidates who endorsed the presidential bid of Robredo included congressional candidate Dan Atayde, incumbent Councilor Renecito Novero and other candidates for councilor namely Dr. Chris Sorongon, Em Ang, Ed Guillem, Cash Montalvo and Jonathan Diaz.
Sorongon, spokesperson of GP, said that Leonardia remained neutral and has not endorsed any presidential candidate for the May elections.
Sorongon said only seven of them were present to endorse the presidential bid of Robredo.
Incumbent Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran was not around, but he also earlier declared his support for Robredo, he said.
"Some members of our group have their own personal choice and we also respect that," Sorongon said, adding that "we are here in our personal capacity to endorse our candidate for president."
The GP spokesperson stressed that they endorsed Robredo because of her character and her transformation leadership for the country.
"Personally, I have spent time working with her during this pandemic," he said.
Robredo also expressed her gratitude to all the local officials and other sectors for supporting her candidacy.
For the vice presidential race, the GP is supporting the candidacy of Davao City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Prior to the event in Bacolod City, Robredo attended the "Pagtipon-tipon sang Negrosanon para kay Leni-Kiko" at the Bantayan Park in Bago City.
Speaking before a crowd of at least 12,000, the presidential aspirant said she wanted to keep her promise to come back and meet Bagonhons supporters.
It can be recalled that during the Pink People's Rally at the Paglaum Sports Complex in Bacolod City last month, Robredo apologized to supporters who lined up and waited for her in Bago for not passing through the city.
Her team said there was an inadvertent rerouting of her party on their way back to Bacolod from a mini-rally in La Carlota City.
"Kailangan ko tuparin ang lahat na pangako ko. Kaya kahit napakasikip ng schedule ngayon, talagang hindi pwedeng hindi ako pwedeng pumunta dito sa inyo sa Bago City [I need to fulfill all my promises. Thus, no matter how tight the schedule is now, I need to go here in Bago City]," she said.
Robredo was accompanied by former Negros Occidental governor Rafael Coscolluela, who is the provincial campaign manager of Robredo People's Council - Negros Occidental.
Speaking in a makeshift stage, a parked mobile decorated with pink flowers and stars, the vice president underscored the kind of government she is pushing for.
"Eto yung aasahang klase ng pamahalaan pag ako yung naging pangulo. Isang pamahalaan na ang gobyerno ang lalapit sa tao [This is the kind of government if I will be president. A government that goes to the people]," Robredo said, as she also vowed for an honest governance.