An official of the Liberal Party (LP) believes Vice President Leni Robredo has the political instincts on what’s she doing right now to build a united opposition in the 2022 polls.
Former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr., the party’s vice president for internal affairs, said his colleagues and supporters of the political opposition should trust Robredo.
The vice president has been working on a unity ticket or having one opposition standard-bearer in the polls— believed to be key in defeating the administration bet next year.
Just last week, she met with Senators Richard Gordon and Panfilo Lacson, along with the latter’s running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto, as part of her “exploratory talks” with other possible 2022 poll bets.
READ: Robredo, Lacson discuss ‘broadest possible unity’ for 2022 polls
Prior to this, Robredo also admitted talking to Manila Mayor Isko Moreno about the upcoming national elections.
“Nakikipagusap sya sa iba-ibang grupo kasi nga ang layunin ay magbuo ng malawak na (She is talking to different groups because the aim is to build a broad) coalition. Let’s not speculate wildly about VPL’s motives. Tiwala lang tayo (Let’s just trust her),” Baguilat said in a Twitter post with hashtags #KalmaLang and #LetLeniLead.
“Magpapasya si VP Leni sa tamang panahon. Sa ngayon, ang goal dapat nating mga buong-buo ang tiwala sa kanya ay ipakita ang suporta at magkaisa (VP Leni will decide at the right time. For now, our goal who fully trust her is to show our support and unite),” he added.
Baguilat tweeted this on Wednesday, July 28, after former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV warned Robredo and the LP that he and the Magdalo Group will abandon her if she gives way to Lacson in the 2022 presidential race.
The former senator said he hoped this was "not true."
READ: Robredo to give way to Lacson?; 'No way' says Trillanes, Magdalo
"Pero kung totoo ito, pasensya na po pero (But if this is true, I apologize but the) Magdalo Group would not join you and LP kung mag give way kayo para kay Sen. Lacson (if you give way to Sen. Lacson),” Trillanes said.
But in another post, responding to a Twitter user, Baguilat explained Robredo’s meeting with other possible 2022 poll bets were “tactical talks but nothing (is) final yet.”
“Just making sure na open lines ang usapan. LP layunin pa rin is itulak si VPL at sana sya (LP still aims to push for VPL and hopefully she will be the) common candidate,” he said.
“Anyway, we may have different interpretations of recent events. I still trust her political savvy and that at the right time, everything will come into fruition,” he added.
Robredo is taking her time to decide on her possible presidential bid given her low survey numbers and “viability” as the opposition standard-bearer in 2022.
So far, only Lacson and Sotto announced their candidacies for president and vice president, respectively.
Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is making the rounds, meeting with political leaders and past presidents, in a bid to consult with them about her plans to run as president.