Leni Robredo Endorses Leila de Lima’s House Bid in Naga Rally
LENI ROBREDO – Leni Robredo has officially endorsed Leila de Lima’s House bid during a lively sortie in Naga City.
Former Vice President and now Naga City mayoral candidate Leni Robredo has officially endorsed the Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list and its first nominee, former Senator Leila de Lima, during a press conference at the Naga City People’s Mall on Saturday, March 15.
Robredo, a key political figure in the upcoming May polls, expressed her strong support for ML and De Lima, a well-known critic of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial drug war. De Lima has been actively leading ML’s community engagements in Albay and Camarines Sur since Thursday, March 13.
“I will vote for Mamamayang Liberal not because I am a Liberal,” Robredo said. “I will vote for them because Leila De Lima is the First Nominee.”
Robredo clarified that ML was not created simply to secure a seat in Congress but to represent marginalized communities and bring their concerns to the national stage.
“The Liberals are not just a political party. It’s an organization of non-politicians, representatives of marginalized sector who bring their agenda to those communities,” Robredo emphasized.
ML Party-list has been in existence since 2012 but only received accreditation from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) last year. The party aims to advocate for social justice, human rights, and the welfare of underrepresented groups.
De Lima, a native of Iriga City, received a warm welcome from Naga City residents, who chanted “Leni!” and “Leila!” as the two political figures made their way through the city’s business district.
De Lima’s political career has been marked by her fierce opposition to Duterte’s drug war, which led to her detention on drug-related charges in 2017 — charges that she and her supporters have consistently maintained were politically motivated. After nearly six years in detention, De Lima was acquitted and released in 2023, and she has since been focused on human rights advocacy and political reform.
Robredo’s endorsement is seen as a significant boost to ML’s campaign, with political analysts noting that her support could enhance the party’s chances of securing a congressional seat in the upcoming elections.
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