Vice President Leni Robredo does not fear the thought of running for public office while having low survey numbers.
This was the takeaway from Robredo's remarks during an online interview Friday afternoon, Sept. 3 wherein she talked about her decision-making process in the lead-up to the May 2022 national elections.
The opposition leader said that while she wasn't ready to decide on whether or not she would run for president, she made it clear that her poor showing in recent presidential surveys wasn't causing her any discouragement.
"Kasi ang iba...parati nilang sinasabi na takot lang ako sa (Others always say that I'm just afraid of the) low numbers. Pero sa akin (But for me) it’s so much more than that," Robredo said.
She then pointed out to her come-from-behind victory in the previous national polls that earned her the second highest position in the land.
"Tumakbo nga ako (I ran) in 2016 with very low ratings, ‘di ba (right). Sanay naman akong dehado (I'm used to being the underdog). And handa naman tayo (we're ready) to work thrice as hard," she said.
Robredo started out her 2016 vice presidential campaign with dismal single-digit ratings, but she still ended up beating former Senator Bongbong Marcos in dramatic fashion.
Her survey situation back then is quite similar to her standing right now where her name is seen below the likes of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, ex-Senator Marcos, and incumbents Senator Grace Poe and Senator Manny Pacquiao.
The Liberal Party (LP) chairman said in the same interview Friday that she could reach a decision on her 2022 plans "within the month".
She said that she may even end up backing someone else's candidacy for president "if that is the best way for us to put a stop to what is happening now and hope to achieve better governance."
"So iyong (the) curious thought talaga nandoon (is really there). Hindi iyon (It's not) hesitation, pero (but) honest to goodness consideration of what will be best for the country," Robredo said.