A CONFLICT of interests among her local political supporters here prompted Vice President Ma. Leonor ‘Leni’ Robredo to skip a scheduled rally here on Wednesday.
Instead, Robredo will proceed to the rallies in Dipolog City on Wednesday and later on Thursday in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.
Deputy Speaker Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd district, Cagayan de Oro) said the issue of the venue where Robredo would hold the rally has remained unresolved among her supporters — Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno, Rep. Juliet Uy (2nd district, Misamis Oriental), and himself.
Rodriguez said Uy offered a vacant ten-hectare lot of Phivedec in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental but Moreno reportedly objected to the proposal.
Moreno and Uy are both running against each other for the gubernatorial post of Misamis Oriental. Moreno supports the Vice President and her running mate, Senator Kiko Pangilinan while Uy supports Robredo, she is endorsing the vice presidential bid of Sara Duterte.
Rodriguez, who like Uy, supports Robredo and endorses Duterte or Ro-Sa, said he too offered Cagayan de Oro as a venue for the rally.
“Leni could motorcade from Tagoloan to Cagayan de Oro easily,” Rodriguez, who is seeking reelection as 2nd district, Cagayan de Oro congressman said.
Moreno has been vocal that he would not share with politicians who endorse a Ro-Sa ticket. Reached for his comment, the Mayor said “he would not dignify the controversy by answering questions about it.”
“These people do not even display the pictures of Robredo in their political ralliers,” Moreno said.
Moreno said they would still hold a rally in nearby Opol town with Senator Pangilinan and his wife, Sharon Cuneta as guests instead of Robredo.
Moreno, Uy and Rodriguez are staunch supporters of Robredo.
Instead of Cagayan de Oro, Robredo will be at the rally organized by former rebel leader Abdullah Macapaar also known as Commander Bravo, and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Pantao Ragat town in Lanao del Norte Wednesday morning.
She will then proceed to Ozamiz City and in the evening attend a rally at the Dipolog Boulevard in Dipolog City Wednesday night.
On Thursday, Robredo would attend a rally in Naliyagan Grounds in Patin-ay town in Agusan del Sur, which is hosted by Gov. Santi Cane Jr., who along with his board members, and mayors have thrown their support to her presidential bid.
Robredo has been winning the support of governors and political leaders in the Caraga Region the latest of whom is Surigao del Norte Gov. Francisco Matugas, his wife, Sol, and other town mayors who expressed their support to the Vice President’s daughter, Aika when she visited Surigao City and Siargao Island last Sunday.
Matugas and the local officials signed a pink surfboard as proof of their support for Robredo.
Robredo’s daughter, Aika with movie actress Nadine Lustre were doing a house-to-house campaign in Siargao.
In Surigao Sur, Rep. Johnny Pimentel (2nd district, Surigao del Sur) also declared their support to Robredo.
