By HENRY EMPEÑO | May 12, 2022

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Candidates gunning for various local positions in Olongapo City crossed party lines on Monday, April 11, to endorse Vice President Leni Robredo as their common presidential candidate, saying that her victory in the coming May elections is the bigger interest at stake.

The local political bets include incumbent Olongapo Vice Mayor Aquilino “Jong” Cortez Jr., who is seeking reelection as an independent candidate; former Zambales vice governor Anne Gordon, who is the Liberal Party’s frontrunner in the city electoral contest; incumbent city councilor Kaye Ann Legaspi, who is looking for another term under Aksyon Demokratiko; and 10 other aspirants for the city council.

“Let us forget our personal politics and instead look to a higher calling—that is, to ensure that Vice President Leni wins,” Cortez said during a meeting organized by the Solid Leni Pilipinas (SLP) movement at the Moonbay Marina here.

“This (common stand of local candidates) is born of necessity,” he added. “We may have our own political parties in the local level, but for VP Leni we should forget our differences and work for the sake of our country.”

Gordon, who became Zambales vice governor in 2007 under the Liberal Party, meanwhile expressed the common desire of her party-mates to have a president who will place above all the interest of people in the grassroots.

“This is not for our personal interest, but for that of the country,” echoed Legapi. “I may have a different political party, but I now stand here because of my love for VP Leni.”

Among those who also pledged to support and campaign for Robredo was Rowena Quejada, a local political leader here who represented the Diwa Partylist. Quejada portrayed the character “Mosang” in the social media short films by VinCentiments, which also produced the LenLen series critical of Robredo.

Quejada, however, said that while she had a contract with VinCentiments, she had come out for Robredo at this critical juncture of the election campaign for her own political reason. “Hindi ko kayang ipagpalit ang prinsipyo ko—kahit hindi ko na siguro makuha ang bayad ko para sa dalawa pang shooting (I cannot just abandon my principles, even when I may not be able to get my pay anymore for the last two episodes),” she said.

SLP-Olongapo coordinator Patrick Escusa said this was the first time in recent history that Olongapo politicians banded together for a common presidential candidate.

Among those who attended the SLP meeting and pledged support for Robredo are Liberal Party candidates for city councilor Cris Tooley Jr., Samuel Balintay Jr., Ed Adolfo, Lyrissa Ordonio, Leng Mapalad, and Josefina Saberon.

Those campaigning for Robredo under independent banners are Joyce Merza, Ivan Tanega, Lean Oliva and Tina de Leon.

Escusa said that aside from those who attended the SLP meeting on Monday, there were five other certified Robredo supporters running for the city council. These are incumbent councilor Jerome Bacay and barangay captain Ying Anonat, who are both running under the Nacionalista Party headed by incumbent Mayor Rolen Paulino Jr.; barangay chief Gilbert Piñero, who is with mayoralty aspirant Echie Ponge of Aksyon Demokratiko; and independent council aspirants Edwin Esposo and Dante Hondo, who are also incumbent barangay chiefs.

Lawyer Angel Orozco, who is the lead convenor of Solid Leni Pilipinas-Olongapo, said they group will continue to reach out to other candidates who support Leni despite their local party affiliation.

“We may come from different political camps, but we have the same choice for a national leader and that is VP Leni. We may have different political views, but we have the same aspiration,” he added. ~