Press Release
April 12, 2022

Pangilinan thanks La Union supporters, welcomes new allies from rival political group to Tropa fold

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union - Vice-presidential aspirant Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Tuesday thanked supporters of Team Robredo-Pangilinan (Tropa) who attended their mid-morning rally in this city, even as he welcomed new allies from a rival political group who shifted political commitments to Tropa.

In a radio interview, Pangilinan told Tropa rally participants from La Union and nearby provinces: "maraming salamat sa suporta ... Kakaiba (kayo). Sa darating na halalan, huwag po nating kalilimutan na ... pag tama ang panunungkulan, pag tama ang paggamit nang pondo ng gobyerno, marami ang makikinabang."

Tropa's standard-bearers, Vice President Leni Robredo and Pangilinan, together with their senatorial candidates, arrived in San Fernando on Tuesday morning.

La Union is the first leg of their provincial sorties before the Holy Week break. Tropa will visit also Catanduanes and Masbate.

In the same radio interview, Pangilinan said "sa atin, everybody is welcome, basta ang kanilang paninindigan ay sa gobyernong tapat ay maiangat ang buhay ng lahat," without specifically mentioning the name of the rival political party from where the new allies came from.

"Everyone puede pang magbago ng isip. Welcome sila sa hanay ng mga kakampinks at Tropa dahil kinakailangnan naman kasi ang malawakang pagkakaisa, hindi lamang para maipanalo ang ating kandidatura, kung hindi para maisulong ang isang tapat at malinis na panunungkulan," he said.

"Uunahin siempre ang problema ng hunger kaya hello pagkain, goodbye gutom ... Uunahin natin ang mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Kapag sinuportahan nang husto sila (ay) dadami ang ani, dadami ang huli, mawawala ang matinding gutom. Dahil marami na ang suplay ng pagkain na masustansya sa ating bansa," Pangilinan said.

Asked how he feels about the San Simon, Pampanga farmers raising his hand and endorsing him instead of the usual traditional politicians doing the ritual, Pangilian said "iyong magsasaka, ang taumbayan, sila ngayon ang nagtaas nang ating kamay."

Addressing directly the issue that several traditional politicians want to pair Robredo with other vice-presidential candidates, Pangilinan said he recognizes the prerogative of several traditional politicians to limit their support only to Robredo, but added "ang magtataas nang kamay naming (dalawa) ay ang taumbayan."

Pangilinan rallied Tropa supporters to further consolidate and convert into Leni-Kiko allies the undecided and those who favor other vice-presidential candidates.

"Kung nais nating maipanalo si VP Leni, dapat solid ang suporta sa kanya. Mahirap kung iba ang makasingit dyan. E Baka pag nakasingit iyan baka planuhin ang pagtanggal kay VP Leni dahil may sariling agenda ang mga iyan," he said.

"Tayo ay maliwanag. Wala akong (hidden) agenda," he said. "Maraming salamat rin sa tiwala na ibinigay sa atin ni VP Leni."

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