Robredo goes to vote-rich Cavite

Vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo visits the province of Cavite – the vote-rich opposition stronghold.

Bea Cupin reports.

BEA CUPIN, REPORTING: This is the province of Cavite, home to over 1.8 million registered voters, a stronghold of the opposition.

It’s also where Leni Robredo, the vice presidential bet of the ruling Liberal Party, chooses to campaign solo for the first time since the official campaign period began.

Cavite’s governor is Jonvic Remulla is a staunch ally of opposition standard-bearer Jejomar Binay, while most local officials are also allied with the opposition.

But Robredo and her standard-bearer Mar Roxas has a strong ally in former governor turned PCSO chairman Ayong Maliksi. The LP also has allies among district representatives.

The odds are stacked against the ruling party in the second most vote-rich province in the country.

In 2010, Binay beat Roxas here by 200,000 votes.

Speaking to barangay officials and women from Dasmariñas City, Robredo draws parrelels between her vice presidential bid this year and her struggles when she ran for congress in 2013. 

Robredo hops from one city to another – Dasmariñas, Imus, Rosario, and General Trias – no campaign promises are made, no platforms announced.

It’s a low-key introduction to the neophyte lawmaker.

Roxas and Robredo have a tough campaign  ahead of them despite being part of the ruling party. Roxas trails behind his rivals in a tight presidential race and never landed the top spot in any recent survery.

Robredo is up against big names in Philippine politics and suffers from poor name recall. 

Robredo says she’ll return to Cavite soon, alongside her standard bearer and full senate slate.

They may not win here, but they can narrow the gap.

Bea Cupin, Rappler, Cavite. – Rappler.com