Running as an independent candidate in her Palace bid is Vice President Leni Robredo's way of saying that she is willing to forge alliances with different political groups ahead of the May 2022 polls.
Robredo gave this reason Friday, Oct. 8, when asked during a press conference at the Quezon City Reception House why she chose not to run under the Liberal Party (LP), which she incidentally chairs.
"Hindi naman ako nag-resign from the Liberal Party (I didn't resign from the Liberal Party)," she clarified, "Pero (But) running for independent is our symbolic way of showing na bukas kami sa pagkikipag-alyansa sa maraming mga partido (that we are open to forming alliances with many parties)."
"Yung aming sinusulong na inclusivity, yung sinimulan namin na pag-uusap kahit hindi bahagi ng partido (This is to promote inclusivity, the non-partisan talks that we initiated)," Robredo added.
"Yung pagkakandidato naman sa pagka-pangulo ay hindi para sa partido pero para sa nagkaka-isang lakas ng sambayanan (The candidacy for president isn't done for the party, but for the united strength of the country)," she further said.
The press conference was held a couple of hours after Robredo accompanied LP president and Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan in filing the latter's certificate of candidacy (COC) for vice president.
Pangilinan said during the presser that despite Robredo's decision to run as independent, the once-ruling LP still intends to support her all the way to Malacañang.
"We already passed a resolution in our national executive council that our candidate for president is Vice President Leni. So that is already set. And therefore the party will mobilize behind her," he said.
Friday was the final day of COC filing for the election hopefuls.