Vice President Leni Robredo said on Thursday, October 14, that she is no longer keen on continuing unity talks with other presidential candidates, hinting that there are certain issues they cannot agree on.

She, however, noted that unity is still possible in her senatorial slate which has already been finalized by the opposition.

As the de facto opposition leader, the vice president tried at first to unite non-administration presidential candidates by meeting with Manila Mayor Francisco 'Isko Moreno' Domagoso, Senators Manny Pacquiao and Panfilo Lacson.

These talks failed, however, as they cannot find a consensus among contentious issues such as their stance on the Marcoses and Dutertes. In particular, she earlier admitted that one of the reasons why she run as president was because of Moreno’s "friendly stance" on the issues surrounding the Marcos family.

“While unification was a very important objective of all those talks, there was a limit to what we can unify behind,” Robredo said during the Rotary Club of Manila 16th Weekly Membership Meeting.

“When I decided to run for the presidency, it was my signal to move on already from all attempts to unify the personalities and the parties,” she added.

Robredo announced her presidential bid last Oct. 7. She filed her Certificate of Candidacy (COC) at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila on the same day and revealed after that she filed as an independent candidate.

READ: ‘Buong-buo ang loob ko’: Robredo announces bid for presidency

After she filed her COC, the opposition leader revealed that she already started talking with various sectors outside the once-ruling Liberal Party, which she chairs.

These past few days, screenshots of her Zoom meetings with the LGBTQIA+, labor leaders, and other sectors were seen on Facebook. Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, her running mate, was with her in the meeting with the LGBTQIA+ for Leni.

Robredo is adamant that she intends to put “people’s welfare first before politics” especially after seeing “where hateful and divisive politics can lead our country.”

This will likely be reflected in her Senate slate, which she says would be inclusive.

READ: Robredo says her Senate slate 'won't be all-LP'

During the said event, the vice president revealed that her Senate slate has already been finalized, although she is not authorized to reveal the list for now.

“After we announce our senatorial slate, you will see that our slate is composed of representatives from many different parties. If unity was not possible among the presidential contenders, I have not given up on unifying our people,” she said.

There will likely be only three senatorial candidates from the Liberal Party. The opposition already earlier announced the names of detained Senator Leila de Lima and former Ifugao representative Teddy Baguilat Jr. as senatorial candidates from LP.

Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, and former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV of Magdalo Party will be guest candidates.

Baguilat also said that Robredo is in talks with former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, Federation of Free Workers president Sonny Matula, and lawyer and author Alexander Lacson of the Kapatiran Party.

READ: Opposition still completing senatorial slate; Robredo in talks with Colmenares, Lacson, and Matula

“So, we are very hopeful that unity is still possible. Maybe not among the presidential contenders but definitely among many different kinds of people from different political affiliations,” Robredo said.