VICE President Leni Robredo has confirmed Friday that she will run in the upcoming 2022 national and local elections, should the united opposition choose her as their presidential standard-bearer.
In an ambush interview during the launch of her Vaccine Express program in Pampanga, Robredo said that she is willing to run for the presidency next year as long as the opposition would pick her as their presidential bet regardless of her potential rival.
“Ako, kung ako ‘yong mapili ng unity ticket, tatakbo ako. Kung ako ‘yon,” Robredo told reporters.
The vice president further said that she is ready to face former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. whom she beat in the 2016 vice presidential race by a margin of only more than 200,000 votes.
“Kung one-on-one na Bongbong Marcos, lalaban ako kahit dehado,” she said.
Bongbong, the only son and namesake of the late dictator and former president Ferdinand Marcos, has earlier self-proclaimed that he will emerge victorious against Robredo in the future.
On creating a broad alliance, the Vice President shared that she was previously in separate talks with Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, both reportedly vying for a national post.
However, she admitted that forging an alliance with politicians from different parties can be hardly achieved as both Pacquiao and Domagoso have been consistently urged to run as representatives by their respective political parties.
Robredo, however, said that she still plans to meet them but refused to elaborate further details to ensure that it will soon materialize.
“Ayaw kong i-preempt iyong detalye ng mga pinagmee-meeting-an kasi ayaw ko rin na iyon pa tuloy iyong maging dahilan para hindi matuloy iyong mga usapan,” she stated.
Robredo hoped for her colleagues to decide with selfless motive on whether or not they will consider establishing a united opposition slate as she believes that their plan must be—after all—for the welfare of the country.
“Naiintindihan ko ‘yong gaano kahirap kasi ‘yon nga, sinasabi ko nga na hindi kasi kami pare-parehong partido. Talagang ‘yong ideal, hindi mo ma-a-achieve na madali. Pero sa akin, ‘yong hope ko lang ngayon na sana lahat kami magde-decide hindi to protect ourselves, hindi to protect our groups, pero kung ano ‘yong pinaka-best formula para sa bayan natin,” Robredo stressed.
Asked if she is interested to seek for a local seat, Robredo said that she has it in mind but is clearly not her priority.
“Ang priority ngayon, ayusin talaga iyong national. Magkakaroon lang ako ng time na ayusin iyong lokal kapag maayos na ang national,” she remarked.
(PHOTO CREDIT: pna.gov.ph)