Vice President Leni Robredo (Photo from VP Leni Robredo's Facebook page)
LEGAZPI CITY – Bicolano supporters of presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo are hoping for honest and clean election results after partial and unofficial tally showed her with at least 16 million votes behind frontrunner Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday afternoon.
Aleah Lalaine Bolandro, an engineering student at Bicol University, said she supported Robredo.
"I am beyond proud and have a clear conscience that I stand with what is morally right and just. I am still hopeful that the truth about this election will come out," she said in an interview.
Bolandro added that Robredo and her running mate for the vice presidency, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, embody the characteristics of true leaders with principles and excellence in what they do.
"This fight is not yet done. And definitely, this fight is worth fighting," she said.
Ken Tabuena of Catanduanes in a text message, said the result of the latest election is a massive letdown, especially for the "kakampinks" or the supporters of Robredo.
"We thought we could have done more, we could have done better, from house to house campaigning to converting family members, I think if we just pushed further, we could have been in a better light than we are now experiencing," he said.
Asked if he is still hopeful for a Robredo win, he said: "We still are very much alive".
Tabuena said he was not being delusional or fanatic, he just wanted a good future for the country.
In a statement, Noel de Luna, founder of Kusog Bicolandia, said the results of the election reflect how people have become "willing victims of the ills and excesses of the kind of politics we used to hold for decades".
"For all the flaws and shortcomings - let us all hope and pray for the betterment of our future as a nation," he said.
Robredo told her supporters in a pre-dawn address Tuesday that they did not fail because they started a new movement and opened new doors.
“Kaya sinasabi ko sa inyo ngayon: Walang nasayang. Hindi tayo nabigo (And so I am telling you this: nothing was wasted, we did not fail),” she said.
In a statement later in the day, she said she will meet with experts to tackle concerns raised on social media and will share the results of those consultations.
Robredo thanked her supporters who stayed with her during the campaign period, as well as all those who believed and voted for her.
She said they will have a get-together on May 13 at a still undisclosed venue in Manila.
She also confirmed attending a thanksgiving mass at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral in Naga City. (With a report from Bernadine Carretas/PNA)
