Philippine presidential hopeful Leni Robredo's Pasig rally draws biggest crowd so far

Tens of thousands of supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo surge like a wave on Emerald Avenue in Pasig City during Sunday’s 'PasigLaban' grand people’s rally. It was by far the largest crowd her ticket has gathered 50 days ahead of the May 9 vote. — ELMER GATCHALIAN/contributor

MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): A Pasig River wave of pink washed over Emerald Avenue in Pasig City as early as noon on Sunday (March 20) that saw skyscrapers with splashes of presidential candidate Leni Robredo’s colour.

A predominantly young crowd of at least 137,000, according to the Pasig City police, spilled over to Edsa and adjoining streets from the entire stretch of Emerald in the Ortigas business district. The crowd estimate was later placed by organisers at 180,000.

The grand people’s rally, held 50 days before Election Day, was the largest crowd the ticket has gathered so far.

Crafting a so-called Pasig River wave, starting from the main stage, the tail end of the wave could barely be seen from its starting point.

The crowding prompted programme hosts to remind the audience to strictly observe health protocols and to make sure to call the attention of medics should they feel nauseous due to the warm weather.

The PasigLaban grand rally also saw the birth of a “Leni-slide” dance move, to supposedly usher in a win for the presidential candidate.

Senators in the tandem of Robredo and Sen. Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan delivered their campaign speeches, with Robredo finally addressing the crowd late in the evening. The grand rally ended at 8:45pm.

Meanwhile, the last surviving members of the 1971-1972 Constitutional Convention assembled under the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos regime on Sunday came out in support of Robredo.

The 13 signatories — which include Sen. Richard Gordon, Chief Justice Hilario Davide and Lilia de Lima — said “only Leni Robredo ... meets and fits the highest credentials for the presidency.”

“To address and face up to these formidable challenges [facing the country], we need a tried and tested leader who is capable, caring, sincere, focused, and most of all godly, who does not steal and does not lie,” they added.

In supporting Robredo, 13 delegates cited her concrete action programmes, unblemished track record and her long public service in marginalised sectors of the country as proof that she was more than qualified for the presidency.

Gordon, the youngest delegate in the convention, is also a guest candidate on Robredo and Pangilinan’s ticket.

On Sunday, the Philippine National Police warned persons posting bomb threats on social media that they could be held liable under a Marcos law punishing false bomb threats.

The Facebook page of a group organising the grand rally in Pangasinan for Robredo and Pangilinan was hounded by bomb threats, possibly from supporters of rival candidates.

Police Col. Jean Fajardo, spokesperson for the PNP, said in a message on Sunday that false bomb threats included those posted on social media.

“The law is clear on this,” she said, referring to Presidential Decree No. 1727, which was signed into law by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1980.

Fajardo particularly cited a provision where the law explicitly provides sanctions for “lawless elements and other persons popularly known or described as ‘pranksters,’ having been conveying, propagating or otherwise disseminating false information or willfully making threats regarding the alleged presence of bombs, explosives, incendiary devices, or any similar device or means of destruction in buildings, tenements, and other places, by word of mouth or through the use of telephones, telegraph, the mail, and other means of communication, for the purpose of causing or creating public confusion and disorder.”