Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday, September 30, welcomed the nomination and endorsement of opposition coalition 1Sambayan, but fell short of assuring the group and her supporters that she will soon announce her decision to run as president.
Instead, she asked Filipinos to pray together with her to arrive at the best decision for the country.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa nominasyon na ito ng 1Sambayan. Malaking karangalan ang tiwalang ipinagkaloob sa akin ng mga miyembro ng grupong ito (I am thankful to the nomination of 1Sambayan. The members of the group have given me a big honor and trust),” she said in a statement shortly after the opposition coalition officially endorsed her for the presidency.
“Nagpapasalamat rin ako sa mga kababayan natin na (I am also thankful to our fellowmen who) these past weeks and months, have shown their overwhelming support sa atin (for me),” Robredo added.
READ: Robredo is 1Sambayan candidate for president in 2022 polls
However, the vice president did not mention if 1Sambayan’s endorsement will lead her to officially announce her candidacy.
While she recognized the responsibilities and obligations of being a president seeing as lives and future are at stake here, Robredo maintained that her decision to join the presidential race should not be based on ambition alone or the persuasion of others.
“Sa loob ito dapat manggaling, dala ng pagharap sa lahat ng konsiderasyon at malalim na pagsuri sa sitwasyon (It should come from inside, together with facing all the considerations and deep insight into the situation,” Robredo said.
The vice president assured her supporters, however, that she is aware of her responsibilities as a leader and as a Filipino.
“At taimtim na pagninilay at pagdarasal ang ginagawa natin. Sa mga susunod na araw, samahan ninyo akong magdasal pa (We are deep in meditation and prayers. In the following days, join me in praying) that our decision will be what is best for our country,” Robredo added.
1Sambayan is the first group to endorse Robredo for president. Even her own Liberal Party (LP), which she chairs, has yet to make a formal announcement of their endorsement of her.
READ: Robredo assures LP partymates: ‘I’m aware I’m your leader’
Robredo insists on uniting the opposition, which has been challenging after the announcement of candidacies of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Senator Manny Pacquiao, both of whom were seen to have criticized the Duterte administration in recent weeks.
She said she’s giving herself until Oct. 8, the last day of the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) to decide if she will join the presidential race or not.
Robredo placed sixth in the latest Pulse Asia survey for presidential preferences, with her score jumping from 6 percent in June to 8 percent in September.
READ: Robredo’s Pulse Asia rating shows public trust despite fake news, says spokesman
Thousands of the vice president’s supporters have called on her to run for president in recent weeks with many of them tying ribbons outside her office and leaving notes of support.
Robredo assured her supporters that she hears their calls and that she is aware of the deadline that looms before her.