Leni Robredo backs Senate bid of Manny Pacquiao, Benhur Abalos Jr.

[Updated April 24, 2025, 5:01 p.m.]

MANILA, Philippines — Former Vice President Leni Robredo backed the senatorial bids of former Interior chief Benhur Abalos Jr. and former senator Manny Pacquiao, who are both running under the ticket of her 2022 presidential race rival, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. 

Robredo, who is now a Naga City mayoralty candidate, made the endorsement Wednesday, when Abalos and Pacquiao visited her there.

Coalition building

Robredo’s move is part of a “coalition building” among the administration’s camp, according to political analyst Richard Heydarian.

“I think this reflects Leni’s ‘coalition building’ instinct and her camp’s attempt to build a new ‘center’ of gravity by reaching out to politicians from across the political spectrum,” Heydarian told INQUIRER.net in a text message.

For Ronald Llamas, chairman emeritus of Akbayan party-list, Robredo’s move is “not surprising” as she shares common ground with some of the present administration’s policies.

“From the start, Leni said she supports some of the government’s policies like its stance in the West Philippine Sea, its anti-Tokhang stance — so her relationship with the present government isn’t totally antagonistic,” Llamas told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview.

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Llamas, however, noted that Robredo’s endorsement of Abalos and Paquiao appears to be personal, and is not reflective of the entire Liberal Party.

Long-time friend

“He (Abalos) has been our friend for a long time,” Robredo was quoted as saying in a statement from Abalos’ camp on Thursday.

“Let’s support him in his candidacy,” she said in Bicolano.

“We will vote for him in his bid for the Senate.”

Robredo noted that Abalos helped Naga City, when it was hit by Typhoon Kristine.

“He came here several times to help,” she said. “He did it quietly, but he always helped.”

Always behind Pacquiao

Pacquiao also did a house-to-house campaign with Robredo in Naga City.

“We will always be behind Manny Pacquiao,” Robredo was also quoted as saying in a statement from the former senator’s team.

Robredo said Pacquiao is “very kind” and “trustworthy.”

In the 2022 elections, Robredo said she would vote for Pacquiao if she weren’t running for president.

“I know him and he is a very sincere person,” Robredo said of Pacquiao during Jessica Soho’s Presidential Interviews aired on GMA-7.

Backlash expected 

A political analyst on Thursday said some of Robredo’s supporters, referred to as “kakampinks” may not like the endorsement.

The term “kakampink” is a portmanteau of “kakampi” (ally) and “pink”, or the political color Robredo used in 2022 elections.

“I am pretty sure Robredo has her reasons why she endorsed these candidates,” said Associate Professor Jean Encinas-Franco in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

Franco said Robredo’s endorsement of Abalos and Pacquiao is crucial so they could “get as many votes as they can in Bicol and the rest of the kakampinks nationwide.”

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“However, some kakampinks may not like this,” she said. “This is to be expected.”