PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur ― Vice President Ma. Leonor ‘Leni’ Robredo ended her campaign in Mindanao with a grand rally attended by 20,000 people on Naliyagan grounds at the provincial capitol compound in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur yesterday night.
A large number of her supporters were driven here by buses and trucks from neighboring towns ending their blistering house-to-house campaign to help Robredo thwart the revival of a Marcos presidency on May 9 election day.
Many sweated for four hours as they wait for Robredo who came from Cagayan de Oro where she met 12 Bukidnon town mayors who switched to her side.
Her campaign attracted politicians notably the political kingpin Rep. Eddiebong Plaza (2nd district, Agusan del Sur) and Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago ‘Santi’ Cane Jr.
Plaza said he decided to support Robredo after the Holy Week after seeing no other candidates can match her qualifications.
“She is a lawyer, economist, and development worker. Qualities we need for the next presidency,” Plaza said.
Cane said the crowd of 20,000 occupied the one-kilometer and a half, four-lane road from the provincial capitol to Datu Lipus Makapandong Cultural Center where a stage and huge tent were set up.
Giant TV screens were also set up around the capitol grounds and along the highway for people can watch.
The grand rally, which was also supposed to endorse vice presidential bet Sara Duterte, was organized entirely for Robredo with her pink posters all over the capitol grounds and the stage in pink color.
Only a handful of Duterte supporters wearing the green t-shirts were seen but they were quickly swallowed by the sea of pink.
Plaza and Cane said they support the RoSa tandem but Thursday’s rally was for Robredo.
Surigao Sur, Rep. Johnny Pimentel (2nd district, Surigao del Sur) also declared his support to Robredo and Duterte.
Signing their endorsement on a pink surfboard Surigao del Norte Gov. Francisco Matugas, his wife, Sol, and other town mayors also endorsed Robredo and Duterte.
