Supporters of incumbent Philippine Vice President and presidential candidate Leni Robredo chanted in unison to refute claims they were being paid to attend her election rally on Saturday.

The crowd shouted 'We were not paid!' in chorus after Robredo's political rivals accused her campaign team of handing out cash in exchange for attendance at sorties.

Robredo’s supporters swarmed the open field of a campus in Caloocan City on March 26, waving their pink flags, fans, and balloons as they waited for the program to start. Local bands and musicians, many of whom volunteered to perform pro bono, entertained the estimated 37,000-strong crowd.

The attendees arrived from Metro Manila’s cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela or CAMANAVA – a cluster where Robredo previously lost by a huge margin against Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Junior during the 2016 national elections.

In a speech later in the evening, Robredo said: ‘Here in Camanava, I had a big loss in 2016. But when I won as vice president, I look at you all equally. I don’t look at political colour, nor do I look at where I did or did not receive support.’

Robredo is vying for the presidency of the Philippines, and has chosen the colour pink to brand her campaign. She is competing against nine other candidates, including controversial election poll frontrunner Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

A report by news agency AFP said that ‘false and misleading claims have flooded Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Twitter in the lead-up to the May 9 polls, pounding Filipinos with a relentless barrage of propaganda on platforms’ in support of Ferdinand Marcos Junior, who uses the nickname ‘Bongbong’.

The Philippines will be holding its national elections on May 9 this year.