Ending months of speculation, Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday, Oct. 7, formally announced her intention to run as president in the 2022 polls.
The announcement came a week after opposition coalition 1Sambayan endorsed her candidacy and after failed attempts to unify the country’s pro-democracy forces in Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Senator Manny Pacquiao, and Senator Panfilo Lacson, all of whom have already filed their cerrtificates of candidacy (COCs) for president.
Robredo will file her COC at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila at 3 p.m. today, Oct. 7.
“Buong-buo ang loob ko ngayon, kailangan natin palayain ang sarili mula sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon. Lalaban ako. Lalaban tayo.Inihahain ko ang aking sarili bilang kandidato sa pagkapangulo sa halalan ng 2022 (My resolve is firm, we need to free ourselves from the current situation. I will fight. We will fight. I am offering myself as a candidate for the presidency in the 2022 elections),” she announced at the Quezon City Reception House, where she holds office.
The VIce President said there is no more hope for change in the current administration.
Acknowledging that the road ahead is difficult since other parties and candidates have the money and machinery, the Vice President maintained that she will fight to the end for the people.
READ: Robredo is 1Sambayan candidate for president in 2022 polls
“Heto ako ngayon, humahakbang. Ipaglalaban ko kayo hanggang dulo. Itataya ko ang lahat; ibubuhos ko ang lahat ng kayang ibuhos (I am here now, taking that step. I will fight for you all until the end. I will risk all; I will give all I can),” she said.
“Buong-buo ang tiwala ko: Magtatagumpay tayo. Buong-buo pa rin ang pananalig ko sa Diyos at sambayanang Pilipino (My faith is strong: We will triumph. My faith is wholeheartedly in the Lord and the Filipino people),” Robredo, 56, added.
Robredo initially wanted to unify the opposition, believing it to be the best way to stop the continuation of a Duterte government or the possible return of the Marcoses in Malacañang.
The opposition leader said she knows her supporters have been hard at work the past months, telling them in her speech that she has heard their pleas and that she trusts and supports them as well.
READ: Supporters hold prayer rally for Robredo, seek her decision to run for president
“Sama-sama tayong tumaya sa laban na ito. Buong bansa tayong tumungo sa isang kinabukasang mas patas at mas makatao; kung saan ang bawat Pilipino ay may pagkakataong umasenso (Let us be together in this fight. Together, let us walk toward a future that is fairer and more human; where every Filipino has a chance to succeed),” she stressed.
Despite her office’s meager resources, Robredo emphasized that it was still able to accomplish numerous projects in the past five years.
She mentioned the housing projects, cash aid and medical and livelihood assistance, Vaccine Express, Swab Cab, Bayanihan E-Konsulta, Trabahope, Community Mart, free shuttle for the medical frontliners, and provisions of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the height of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Robredo earlier said she was ready to face former Senator Bongbong Marcos Jr., who had just filed his COC for president, one-on-one in a presidential race.
She defeated Marcos in the 2016 vice presidential race, the result of which was opposed by the dictator’s son and protested before the Supreme Court. But in February this year, the High Court junked the protest.