Vice President Leni Robredo’s supporters will have to wait until September to find out if she will run for president, or just seek a local post in her home province of Camarines Sur in 2022.

In an interview with GMA News, Robredo said that she has always decided at the “last minute” about her political plans. Even when she ran for vice president in 2016, she only decided the night before the announcement because of “changing circumstances”.

“So sa akin, siguro earliest na pag-decide September—just before the filing. Pero ako, as of now, open ako sa kahit ano. Ayaw ko naman makipag-away kahit kanino. Pero sa akin, kung saan ako pinakakailangan doon ako (So, for me, the earliest that I will decide is in September—just before the filing. For me, as of now, I am open to anything. I don’t want to argue with anyone. For me, wherever I am most needed, then I’m there).”

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) set the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) on October 1 to 8 this, year but Robredo remains undecided about her next political move.

But if that same interview was any indication, it looks like the vice president is leaning toward seeking a local post.

“Pero ako naman, alam ito ng maraming nakakakilala sa akin, mas masaya talaga ako sa lokal. Kayo siguro nakikita niyo naman iyan. Mas masaya ako sa lokal dahil sa akin, iyong happiness ko sa paninilbihan nakukuha ko sa direct contact sa karaniwang tao, sa mga ordinary people. So kung ako, ako—very, very honestly—kung ako may choice, mas gusto ko ng lokal (For me, those who know me are aware of this, I am happier in the local (politics). You can see that. I am happier with local because the happiness I get from public service I get from direct contact with ordinary people. So if it is up to me—very, very honest—if I have a choice, I prefer local).”

Earlier reports pointed to Robredo’s preference of running as governor of Camarines Sur. However, she also acknowledged that she still had an obligation in national politics.

“Alam ko na maraming naghihikayat sa akin. Iyong mga kakampi at least naghihikayat sa akin mag-presidente. So parating iyon pa rin iyong default (I know that many want me to run. My supporters are encouraging me to run as president. That’s always the default),” she said.

The vice president noted that her biggest problem with running for the presidency is her resources.

“Alam niyo naman wala akong resources. Wala akong—iyong partido namin decimated na, kakaunti na lang kaming natira—mahirap. Mahirap. Kahit pa sabihin nating gusto ko, mahirap siyang gawin in the sense na maraming responsibilities at saka maraming kinakailangang ipaghanda bago iyon mangyari (You know that I don’t have the resources. I don’t—our party is already decimated. There’s only a few of us left. It’s hard. It’s hard. Even I say I want to, it’s hard to do in the sense that there are many responsibilities and there are many things that we need to get ready for before that happens).”

Robredo stressed that she was going to be open to all possibilities, but would prefer to go where she can best serve the people.

“Kahit nga wala namang posisyon puwede naman akong manilbihan. Pero iyong sa akin, ayaw kong sumuong sa kahit anong laban na hindi ako handa (Even without a position, we can still serve. For me, I don’t want to go into a fight that I am not ready for),” she said.
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