Batangas Gov. Vilma-Santos Recto raises the hand of Liberal Party (LP) vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo as expression of her support during their meeting on Wednesday before the party’s grand rally at Batangas City Sports Coliseum. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – A ranking official during the Arroyo administration has voiced his support to the tandem of former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo for the May 9 elections.
Eduardo Ermita, who served as executive secretary of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, expressed his support to the tandem during the Daang Matuwid coalition’s sortie in Batangas province.
“Mabuhay ang susunod na Presidente ng Pilipinas, ang anak ng dating senador Gerry Roxas at apo ng kauna-unahang Presidente [ng Ikatlong Republika], Mar Roxas!” said Ermita, a former Batangas congressman.
Aside from being appointed executive secretary, Ermita, a former military official, also served as secretary of the Department of National Defense during Arroyo’s term.
In a chance interview, Robredo said he doesn’t see any conflict with Ermita’s support.
“Yung lahat naman ng suporta welcome pero ‘yung importante siguro kahit anong klaseng suporta, hindi nagbabago ‘yung tinatayuan namin,” Robredo told reporters.
“At saka paniniwala kasi marami namang sumusuporta na wala namang hinihinging kapalit,” she added.
President Benigno Aquino III has repeatedly said that his administration would pursue the plunder cases against Arroyo, currently on hospital arrest at the Veterans Medical Memorial Center.
Roxas, Robredo and the rest of the Daang Matuwid coalition took its campaign to the province of Batangas on Wednesday, meeting with local officials in the municipalities of Balayan and Lemery.
The administration slate will also hold a grand rally with President Benigno Aquino III at the Batangas City Sports Complex later in the afternoon.
The province of Batangas has 1.5 million registered voters for the May 2016 national elections.(MNS)