By Clarist Zablan
(April 12, 2022) – A volunteers’ group backing the presidential run of Manila City mayor on Tuesday defected to the campaign of vice president and opposition leader, boosting her chances against the late dictator’s son less than one month ahead of the election day.
In a manifesto of support, officials and members of Ikaw Muna (IM) Pilipinas switched to Leonor “Leni” Robredo to defeat the frontrunner Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the presidential contest and prevent the return of the Marcoses to Malacanang.
IM Pilipinas refers to itself as Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso’s largest volunteer network.
IM Pilipinas secretary general Elmer Argaño urged the rest of the organization to rally behind Robredo to prevent the “resurrection” of the Marcoses, whom he pointed to as the country’s current “real and present danger.”
“Indeed, winter is coming,” Argaño said in a statement, in an apparent reference to the television series Game of Thrones. “The modern Night King is now haunting and is about to zombify every Filipino, unless a formidable alliance of Filipinos themselves is quickly organized, under the leadership of a staunch enemy of darkness.”
The group, led by its convenor Tim Orbos, maintained that Domagoso has “all the qualities and the sincerity to lead the nation in the worst of crisis,” but acknowledged that Robredo currently has the best chance to overtake Marcos Jr.
The former senator continued to lead the presidential race with a 32-point lead over Robredo based on Pulse Asia’s latest survey, but the vice president appeared to be catching up. Domagoso ranked third, but his support dwindled from the previous month.
“We ask Mayor Isko to make the ultimate and most patriotic sacrifice of throwing the towel into the ring, keep his name untarnished to preserve his bright political future and come out as a hero by helping VP Leni become president,” the group said in the manifesto.
Last month, the Partido Reporma officials also shifted support from Senator Panfilo Lacson to Robredo over similar reasons.
Robredo’s spokesman Barry Gutierrez welcomed the support from IM Pilipinas members, which has renamed itself to IM Leni, saying that he agrees with their “calls for unity.”
But not every member of IM Pilipinas appears to agree with the move, with a segment of the group led by acting secretary general Phillip Piccio remaining firm in rallying behind Domagoso for the May 2022 polls.
“We are maintaining what we have started ever since the day that Yorme Isko has decided to file his candidacy for president,” Piccio said in a separate statement. “We are still going strong as our members continue to grow in all regions of the country.”
Domagoso, who has campaigned under the promise of neutrality amid the rivalry between the Marcoses and the “yellows,” said that he was unaffected by the development and the volunteers can “do whatever they want to do.”
The mayor said he has nothing against Marcos, Robredo, or any of his rivals, and he only views them as his “competitors.”
“Maraming salamat sa kanila (IM Leni). I wish them all the best and this separates the men from the boys,” he told the media. “As I have said, mahirap ang laban pero e yung taong bayan nga hindi sumusuko sa problema nila.”
(MM)
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