VP Leni: ‘I’ve not endorsed any tandem’

Vice President Leni Robredo clarifies that she has neither confirmed her running for president in the 2022 elections, nor has she endorsed anyone that expressed interest in the national post.

“Let me clarify: I have not decided yet, and I did not endorse anyone,” Robredo said in a statement which she posted on her Twitter account.

News about her backing up a possible tandem between Senator Manny Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno circulated a few days ago.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart, Robredo said she’s open to every possible option that “would put a stop to this kind of [pandemic] governance already.” And that includes discussing with other interested potential candidates. “Yes, if that will be the result of discussions. If that will be the result of the discussions of the broadest coalition that we can form,” she said in the interview.

In her Twitter post she emphasized that if we want a rights-based governance, we have to unite.

“I’m also open to running [for president] if that will be good for our country,” she said.

Robredo, in the same interview on Monday, Sept. 6, also expressed gratitude to the over 200 groups from all over the country pushing for her presidential bid in the upcoming 2022 elections, saying she’s giving serious thoughts about gunning for the highest position in the land.

“I’m very, very grateful for the trust and support. As I’ve been saying, I don’t take this trust lightly and I continue to give serious thought to this,” Robredo said.

More than 200-plus groups representing more than 500,000 members have paid tribute to the Vice President’s excellent leadership, especially amid the pandemic, and reiterate their call for her to run as president in 2022.

She also divulged during the interview that she’s meeting with different groups as part of her focus to widen the reach and broaden the base of the opposition ahead of the 2022 elections.

“Para sa akin, so much is at stake in the 2022 elections and I still firmly believe that we need to talk beyond our usual circles. Ang paniniwala ko pa rin is to go into 2022 a united front,” Robredo said.

When asked by Davila what her late husband Jesse Robredo would do in this situation if he’s being asked by more than 200 groups to run for president, the Vice President said he was a seasoned politician and he knew the intricacies of dealing with this.

“I’m giving my best effort for this. Kasi gaya ng sinabi ko, iyong unity for 2022 is the start of moving forward. Kapag sinabi kong start of moving forward past this pandemic, past the elections, kasi iyong iba ang sitwasyon natin ngayon,” she said.

Among the more than 200 groups that expressed support for Robredo’s presidential bid include laborers, health care workers, teachers, church workers, youth and artists such as Pia and Saab Magalona, actor Enchong Dee, vlogger and host Bianca Gonzales, and singers/activists Jim Paredes and Bituin Escalante.

Lawyers who expressed support for Robredo’s possible bid are election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, former Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te and Dean Mel Sta. Maria.