Vice President Leni Robredo clarified on Tuesday, September 7, that she has not endorsed any possible presidential tandem in the May 2022 polls, stressing that she remains open to running for president.
“Nililinaw ko lang: Wala pang desisyon at wala akong inendorso (I’m making it clear: I have no decision yet and I did not endorse anyone),” Robredo said in a Twitter post.
“Nananatili akong bukas sa pagtakbo kung iyon ang ikakabuti ng ating bayan (I remain open to running if that is what’s good for the country),” she added.
The vice president explained she has not come up with a firm decision regarding her political plans for the upcoming elections.
Robredo was quoted in a recent ANC interview that she is open to supporting a possible tandem between Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Senator Manny Pacquiao if that is what it will take to end the current Duterte regime.
READ: Robredo willing to support Isko, Pacquiao in 2022 polls if...
The opposition leader said she will support the Isko-Pacquiao tandem on the condition that it will be backed by the broadest coalition formed by the opposition.
On Tuesday, her supporters said she can take all the time she needs to ponder on her decision while they continue to advocate for good governance amid the government’s slow and failed COVID-19 pandemic response.
READ: Robredo supporters giving her space to decide on presidential run
Robredo said that she was merely making a point that everyone needs to join hands to emerge victorious against the present administration.
“Ang punto ko lang, malinaw ang layunin ng lahat ng naniniwala sa makatao at maayos na pamamahala: Ang palitan ang kasalukuyang kalakaran (My point is that the goal of those who believe in in a humane and competent governance is clear: To change the current system),” she added.
The vice president held exploratory talks with candidates from all parties. She had meetings with Senators Richard Gordon, Manny Pacquiao, Panfilo Lacson, and Senate President Tito Sotto.
Robredo remains to be the opposition’s frontrunner for the presidency, although she continuously lagged in presidential preference surveys. Moreno and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, are early favorites in the surveys.
Like the vice president, Moreno has not made public his decision for 2022, only saying that his focus right now is on his pandemic response programs.