Retired Supreme Court (SC) Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has a strong hunch that Vice President Leni Robredo will accept 1Sambayan's endorsement of her and run for the presidency in the May 2022 polls.
Carpio shared this belief during the Friday, Oct. 1 edition of the Friday News Forum where he was the sole guest.
"The next step is for VP Leni to accept our endorsement and to file her certificate of candidacy (COC). We expect that to happen in the next few days," he said.
"I'm sure she will rise to the challenge. Nasa character niya na hindi siya aatras (It's in her character not to back down)," added Carpio, a senior convenor of opposition force 1Sambayan.
He gave this perspective despite him seeing pictures on social media wherein Robredo was spotted in Magarao, Camarines Sur--her home province. This sparked speculation that Robredo was eyeing the gubernatorial seat, which he has said was among her choices come election day.
"I saw that picture also. But you know, nag-lipat siya ng residence so siguro (she transferred residence so maybe), the way I surmise it, baka chine-check niya kung naka-register ba siya doon. Tingin ko chineck niya lang, bumisita lang siya (she's just checking if she's registered there. I think she just went to check, she just went to visit). That's the way I look at it," Carpio said.
"Theoretically she can say no, but judging from what she has been saying, sabi niya, 'Lalaban ako (she said I will fight) just to stop another Duterte administration, lalaban ako (I will fight) just to stop the Marcoses from getting back to Malacañang,'" the former magistrate said.
"So I think the message is there, lalaban siya (she will fight). Of course I cannot say for certain pero I think I'm confident she will decide correctly, she will accept the challenge. Although that's from my personal point of view," he added.
The filing of COCs for election aspirants started Friday. It will end on Oct. 8.
Carpio believes that Liberal Party (LP) Chaiman Robredo will file her COC just before the deadline. He explained why.
"I think foremost in her mind, the way I look at it, yung salita niya na (are her words), 'I will continue with the unity talks.' So kapag fi-nile mo ngayon, eh wala na (So if you file today, you just proved that), you are not for unity talks na.
"So I think isasagad niya (she will wait until) close to Oct. 8 just to show na (that) she's trying to unify the opposition," he said.