By Danielle Rieza-Ecal
LEGAZPI CITY — The upcoming May 9 elections may take on a new and unique complex with a group of noted political leaders, headed by Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, pushing for a Leni Robredo for President and Sara Duterte-Carpio for Vice President combination.
Salceda’s group, aptly called “RoSa 2022,” includes Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco-Salazar and House Deputy Speaker, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, among others. Together, they launched their “RoSa 2022” movement in Cagayan de Oro City earlier this week, with the battlecry “Women Make Change: Dapat ROSA sa 2022.”
As easily discerned, “RoSa” stands for Robredo (Vice President Leni Robredo) who now campaign for President, and and Sara (Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio) who now aspires for Vice President, in the May 9, 2022 elections.
Salceda, who serves as the group’s lead convener, said a Leni-Sara tandem is good for the country, the provinces, and the economy. Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco-Salazar and Deputy Speaker Rodriguez agree and are one in saying that Robredo and Sara Duterte are the “best persons to lead the country.
“You see what they do in all the positions we entrusted to them. They tirelessly adhere to honest and innovative service, and judicious use of resources.) They work beyond the four corners of their offices to provide better services to the people,” Salceda stressed in a press conference during the launch.
“I have long followed and studied their track records in public service, especially good governance and management style. Both VP Leni and Mayor Sara are known for judicious and effective use of public resources in the offices and agencies they presided over. That will be very crucial given our post-pandemic fiscal space,” he said in a separate social media post.
“Both being a long-time friend of mine, I have also studied their plans for the people, for our nation-state, and for the future. Their visions actually cohere significantly, especially in economic development,” Salceda added.
In pushing for the Leni-Sara tandem, Mayor Climaco-Salazar said both are empowered women who have made a difference in their respective fields. “Tanong nila: Bakit babae? Ang sagot ko naman: Bakit hindi babae? (People ask: Why women? My reply: Why not women?) Let us give women the opportunity,” she said.
Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez, who also supports the tandem, said Robredo is the best choice to lead the country, citing her qualifications and proven track record as a public servant. “Robredo, a woman, is well prepared to be president. Why? Six years of the vice presidency. What more do we ask for qualification than being there, working hard for six years as vice president, the next step is the presidency,” he stressed.
Rodriguez said he had informed both Robredo and Duterte-Carpio about their move, to which both leaders “have no objections,” according to him.
Robredo was earlier quoted as having said she can work fruitfully with Duterte-Carpio if they both win in the 2022 elections, adding that it would be a “waste of political capital” to dwell on their differences. At her recent campaign rally in Pasig City, however, she said Sen. Francis Pangilinan is her “one and only ka-tandem.”
Apart from Robredo, there were also calls for a Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Duterte-Carpio tandem, but the latter said she would remain loyal to her running mate, former Sen. Bongbong Marcos.