Pink Movement’s Role in Senate Comebacks
Former Vice President and Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo has attributed the resurgence of former senators Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan in the Senate race to the unwavering hope and energy of the Pink Movement. This base, which strongly supported her 2022 presidential bid, played a crucial part in their unexpected success.
“Tingin ko maraming factors na nag-contribute to their strong showing sa Senate. Unang-una, yung base. ‘Yung base na sinimulan noong 2022 presidential elections is alive and well. Talagang gumalaw sila,” Robredo remarked after her proclamation as Naga City mayor.
Her statement highlights how the Pink Movement’s supporters remained active and engaged, despite previous setbacks. This strong foundation helped Aquino and Pangilinan secure second and fifth places, respectively, based on over 97% of election returns for the 2025 midterm polls.
Expanding the Base and Overcoming Expectations
Robredo also pointed out that the base expanded further, crediting the dedication and sacrifices of their allied candidates. “Maraming sinakripisyo, maraming inilaan na pagod, at maraming sugal. Pero in the end, it all turned out well for all of us,” she added, emphasizing the hard work that led to their success.
Despite pre-election surveys not favoring Aquino and Pangilinan for the top 12 Senate spots, their strong showing surprised many. Robredo expressed joy and disbelief over these results, saying, “Sobrang saya. Sa amin parang anlaki ng disbelief…nu’ng lumabas na si Senator Bam No. 2, Senator Kiko No. 5 parang it was more than what we hoped for. Kaya masayang-masaya.”
Moreover, Robredo’s allied party-list groups, Akbayan and Mamamayang Liberal (ML), also exceeded expectations. Akbayan led the unofficial party-list tally with 2.75 million votes, while ML, headed by former senator Leila de Lima, ranked 14th and is likely to secure at least one seat.
Robredo’s Future Role in Politics
Looking ahead, Robredo plans to focus more on her local duties as Naga City mayor but remains involved in national politics in a supportive capacity. “I will be giving more attention dito sa local, pero hindi ko naman pinabayaan ‘yung role ko sa national. Siguro mas backseat lang, mas ano lang ako, mas tumutulong from the sidelines,” she explained.
She also expressed optimism about having more allies in government, which strengthens their collective fight for good governance. “Marami na tayong mga allies na alam natin na ipaglalaban ‘yung matagal na natin pinaglaban,” Robredo shared.
Her mayoral victory came with a landslide, securing 91% of the votes in Naga City. This strong mandate, combined with the Senate comeback victories and party-list successes, signals a renewed energy for the Pink Movement and its goals.
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