Nothing is clear yet on Vice President Leni Robredo’s political plans for next year, but she stressed that she’s still open to running as the country’s president despite rumors of her seeking a local post.
Although it’s former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s right to seek the presidency next year, Robredo on Sunday, May 16, asked him not to preempt her own decision. Trillanes earlier said that Robredo is preparing to run as governor.
She denied that she’s already preparing to run as governor of her home province of Camarines Sur next year, as Trillanes claimed, but admitted that seeking a local post is “more attractive.”
“Sa akin, karapatan niya naman ‘yan. Pero huwag naman sana akong pangunahan. Huwag naman akong pangunahan ‘pag sinabi mo nakapagdesisyon na ako, mali ka. Kasi wala pa akong desisyon (For me, that’s his right. But he should not preempt
my decision. He should not preempt my decision because if you said that I’ve already made a decision, you are wrong. I don’t have a decision yet),” she said over her weekly radio show.
Although seeking a local post is more attractive because of the level of engagement she can get from the people, Robredo said she understands her responsibilities as the second-highest elected official in the country.
“Naiintindihan ko kaya nga hindi pa ako sarado na hindi ako kakandidato sa pagkapresidente (I understand and that’s why I am not closing my doors to running as president). Anything is possible,” she added.
The vice president admitted that it will be helpful for the opposition to learn about her decision because then, everyone can begin preparing for the polls next year.
But she stressed that she’s been busy with her office’s COVID-19 pandemic response that she has no time to think about her political plans and ambitions.
The 1Sambayan coalition and the Liberal Party, which she chairs, are putting up her name as the united opposition’s standard-bearer. Even Trillanes said he’s willing to step down from his dreams to become a president if Robredo will run as president.
“Ako (Me), from the very start, honest ako niyan (I’m honest about it). Kasi kung may desisyon na ako, bakit ko naman itatago iyon desisyon ko? So, ang totoo walang desisyon dahil nga subsob na subsob tayo sa pandemic (If I already have a decision why will I hide my decision? So, the truth is there’s no decision yet because we’re busy in our pandemic response),” she said.
Robredo denied holding political meetings and challenged those who think she’s had them to ask political groups.
The lady official admitted to changing her place of residency from Naga City to the municipality of Magarao because of a family home they are building there.
However, she emphasized that she hasn’t moved her voter’s registration since there’s no decision yet for her move next year.
To run as governor of Camarines Sur, Robredo has to be a voter of a different municipality because Naga City is an independent component city, which means its voters cannot vote or run for a local post.