The spokesperson of Vice President Leni Robredo revealed that the opposition’s political machinery, specifically that of the Liberal Party (LP) of which Robredo is chairperson, is preparing in case she decides to seek the presidency.
“It is not simply because there is no official candidate yet, nobody has declared openly, it doesn’t mean there is nothing going on. All the preparations are being made by all these groups,” lawyer Barry Gutierrez said Friday night on One News’ The Chief.
Members of the opposition party have been vocal about wanting Robredo to run, but the vice president has remained mum about her political plans. Some even speculate she might not run as president but as governor of her home province of Camarines Sur.
“If she decides to run, their support will be full and unequivocal. And right now, they are already moving to prepare the ground for a possible presidential run for the VP (or) whoever else it is that will stand as the presidential candidate,” Gutierrez said.
Robredo lags behind pre-campaign presidential surveys, often only placing fifth or sixth, behind presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Senators Grace Poe and Manny Pacquiao, and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno.
READ: Robredo bemoans ‘realities’, ‘survey results’ on possible 2022 presidential run
Although she’s not performing well in surveys, Robredo remains to be the most formidable opponent of the administration, having been the face of the opposition for the past five years.
The vice president also has the support of opposition coalition 1Sambayan, as well as a number of the Duterte administration’s toughest critics.
Former congressman Teddy Baguilat Jr., a partymate of the vice president in LP, said they are actually establishing different chapters weekly in preparation for Robredo’s 2022 presidential bid.
READ: Robredo declares: 'I’m still open to running for president'
“Now we are recruiting non-politicians to join our 643 politicos. We are building chapters of members per area,” he said in a recent Twitter post.
Baguilat noted the LP has now grown to 180 chapters nationwide from 70 chapters last year.
“Sa mga nasa (To those in the) opposition, just stay the course. United - ang mantra (The mantra is united). Continue organizing. Let the administration form their many tickets. Huling halakhak tayo (We will have the last laugh),” he said.
Earlier, Robredo transferred residency from Naga City to the nearby municipality of Magarao. Rumors swirled that this is in preparation for her bid to run as Camarines Sur governor, but her camp said she remains to be a voter of Naga and her transfer of residency is due to the property she and her siblings bought in Magarao.