Robredo for President? Decision is Hers to Announce Soon
Vice President Leni Robredo will announce her decision on whether she will run for president in the 2022 elections or not, her spokesperson said Sunday as reports claimed that she had accepted 1Sambayan's nomination to be their standard bearer.
Robredo will make her announcement before Oct. 8, the last day of the filing of certificates of candidacy for the upcoming elections, Barry Gutierrez said during the vice president's weekly radio program.
"Si VP Leni mismo ang magsasabi kung ano kanyang desisyon. Hindi natin kailangan manghula, hindi natin kailangan gumawa ng kung anu-anong kuro-kuro. Ilang araw na lang siya ang magsasabi mismo kung ano ang kanyang pasya," he said.
The 1Sambayan coalition, which aims to come up with a single united slate for the 2022 elections, nominated Robredo as their presidential candidate based on integrity, competence, track record, patriotism, vision for country, and winnability.
Robredo thanked the coalition for their endorsement, but she has yet to formally accept it.
"Ang desisyon sa pagtakbo, hindi puwedeng nakabase sa ambisyon, o sa pag-udyok ng iba. Sa loob ito dapat manggaling, dala ng pagharap sa lahat ng konsiderasyon at malalim na pagsuri sa sitwasyon," she said.
Gutierrez also dispelled claims that Robredo would seek a local post after she transferred her voter registration to Magarao, Camarines Sur from Naga City. He said the vice president only heeded the advice of her lawyers to change her registration address after she moved to her new residence.
"Hindi ibig sabihin nito na siya ay tatakbo sa lokal as CamSur. Wala itong kinalaman sa ano mang plano na tatakbo sa lokal," Gutierrez said.
"Klarong-klaro yung sinasabi ni VP Leni, ang kanyang priority sa kasalukuyan, ang kanyang desisyon na kailangang gawin ay ang pagtakbo sa national, pagtakbo bilang pangulo ng ating bansa," he added.
Should she run for president, Robredo would be facing Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, who have all declared intention to seek the highest post in the land.
Of them, only Pacquiao has filed his candidacy for president so far.