Batanes governor Marilou Cayco on Monday endorsed the presidential and vice presidential bids of Leni Robredo and Kiko Pangilinan, expressing confidence that no province would be too far under their leadership as seen during the last six years.
Cayco, a Liberal Party stalwart who is serving her second term, said Robredo's commitment to helping the province that is at the northernmost part of the country was evident in how she was always the quickest to extend help each time calamity struck.
"Simula ng maupo ako bilang gobernador, napakarami na ng naitulong ni VP Leni sa aking pamamahala lalong-lalo na sa mga panahon na tinamaan kami ng matinding kalamidad," Cayco told an audience at their Provincial Capitol, wherein Robredo's youngest daughter, Jillian, was in attendance.
In September of 2016, when Typhoon Ferdie hit their islands, Cuyco said Robredo was the "first ever national official" to go to Batanes to check up on them and bring aid. The same happened again in 2019, when an earthquake left 8 Ibatans dead and dozens of them injured, she said.
"Siya mismo ang nag-ikot doon upang alamin ang kanilang kalagayan at nagbigay ng tulong," Cuyco said, adding how despite not being able to go due to COVID protocols, Robredo was also there for the province during the aftermath of Typhoon Kiko and when they scrambled to contain a COVID surge.
"Sa lahat ng kumakandidato pagkapangulo, si VP Leni lang ang nakapagbigay na ng serbisyo at tulong sa atin. Siya lang ang personal na nakarating sa ating probinsya, hindi lang isa kundi apat na beses," she said.
"During our most difficult times in Batanes, Leni showed up. Ito ay patunay na sa kanyang pamamahala, walang malayo o malapit. Walang malaki o maliit. Walang maiiwanan. Lahat ay kasama. Bagamat malayo ang Batanes, malapit naman tayo sa puso ni VP Leni," she added.
Cuyco added she was also "wholeheartedly" endorsing Robredo's runningmate, Pangilinan, citing his capacity to continue what the vice president has started, as well as his plans for agriculture.
"Tiwala ako na ipagpapatuloy niya ang nasimulan ni VP Leni. Bilang gobernador na naniniwala sa kahalagahan ng sektor ng agrikultura, buo ang tiwala ko kay Senator Kiko na unahin ang kapakanan at palakasin pa lalo ang interes ng magsasaka upang masiguro na malusog at walang nagugutom sa Pilipinas," she said.
"Bagamat maliit ay naniniwala sa isang bukas na Kulay Rosas. Dito sa Batanes, ipapanalo natin ang Leni-Kiko dahil naniniwala tayo na sa isang Gobyernong Tapat, aangat ang buhay ng lahat," she added.
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