Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Sunday, March 13, that the rally of Vice President Leni Robredo and her team at the Paglaum Stadium in Bacolod City on Friday was a success but their supporters need to continue to reach out to more people to ensure their victory in the May 9 polls.
The stadium overflowed with Robredo supporters estimated at 70,000 by Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, but there were others who said the figure was higher.
“It does not matter what the total number was, it can already be considered a successful day for VP Leni here in Negros Occidental”, Lacson said.
“I feel that the purpose of VP Leni and her group coming to Negros Occidental was successful. Any group who will have tens of thousands of audience will be very happy with the outcome. I’m sure when they left Negros they were full of encouragement,” he said.
Lacson said he is thanking the Negrenses “who showed up and showed their love, especially to VP Leni.”
Negros Occidental mustered the biggest crowd yet for a grand people’s rally for Robredo and her runningmate, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, nationwide, her staff said.
The crowds at the Robredo rallies in San Carlos City were 3,000, Kabankalan City – 5,000, La Carlota City – 5,000, Binalbagan – 2,000, and Hinigaran – 2,000 on Friday, the organizers also said.
Lacson said that although it has only been him and a few officials who have publicly aired that they are for Robredo, the crowds were proof of the support she has in the province.
“Very few public officials have manifested support for VP Leni but look at the number of people who showed up on Friday. These are the people who don’t depend much on elected officials, who went there on their own because they wanted to show VP Leni their support. It really says something about the Negrenses going to that rally without any assistance from their respective local government officials,” he said.
But while the Robredo camp is happy with the results of the rally, they are not resting at all because they know that they need to work harder, Lacson said.
The governor confirmed that Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, who along with 28 other mayors of Negros Occidental is supporting presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr., sent him a text message congratulating him on the successful rally.
The governor had also congratulated Ferrer after the Marcos rally in Bacolod earlier.
Lacson and Ferrer earlier said they respect each other’s choices but their local coalition remains “solid and strong.
The governor, who introduced Robredo at the rally, became a hit on social media over the weekend.
“Can we all agree that Gov. Lacson is one hot daddy”, “Jusko amoy Johnsons baby powder ata to si Gov Dzaddy Bong Lacson,” “Eto and totoong Gov Pogi!” , “Sizzums, mukhang ang bango ni Gov. Bong Lacson”, “Sana kasing pogi rin ako ni Gov Bong Lacson”, and others congratulated him for standing up for Robredo despite the majority of Negros Occidental’s mayors going for Marcos.
Lacson said the comments on social media will die down soon, his feet are still on the ground.
“I was just a cheerleader and I just hope I did a good job on that…I believe in Leni,” he said.
Provincial government employees and Robredo volunteers cleaned up the Paglaum Stadium the day after the rally, Diaz said.
The Bacolod Department of Public Services also helped in the clean up drive.*