CITING financial handicap, Vice President Leni Robredo would rather choose running for governor of Camarines Sur in time for next year’s general elections.
In a television interview, Robredo hinted at the possibility of “going local” but clarified that she remains open to run for president in the May 2022 elections.
“As of now, okay ako sa kahit ano. Iyong pagpe-president, possible pa rin siya,” said Robredo, who admitted having a hard time deciding amid the predicament that she’s in – depleted political party and absence of sufficient funds for her to launch an effective electoral campaign.
“Alam ninyo naman wala akong resources. Wala akong—iyong partido namin decimated na, kakaunti na lang kaming natira—mahirap. Mahirap,” she said.
A lot of factors have to be in place before deciding to run for president, Robredo added.
“Possible pa rin. Iyong sinasabi ko lang, siguro kung sufficient iyong resources ko, mas madaling mag-decide for me. Pero hindi, eh. Alam natin na mahirap iyong… mahirap iyong kalaban kasi iyong lahat na resources nasa kanila,” she added.
Running for Camarines Sur governor, she added, would not be as difficult as running for president since she was congresswoman of the 3rd District of Camarines Sur before she got elected as vice president in 2016.
“Mas priority ko ‘yung local… alam kong may obligasyon ako sa national, alam ko na maraming naghihikayat sa akin. ‘Yung mga kakampi, at least, naghihikayat sa akin mag presidente,” she said.
“So parating ayun pa din ‘yun default. Ang gusto ko sabihin siguro mag de-decide lang ako mag local pag sigurado na ako hindi ako kakandidato sa national,” she added.
Asked as to when she’d be making an announcement, Robredo said she may decide by September, just before the October 8 deadline for the filing of the certificate of candidacy for the 2022 elections.
“Earliest na pag-decide September. Just before the filing,” she quipped.