Running for reelection is “on the table” for Vice President Leni Robredo, her camp said on Wednesday, September 29, after Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan admitted that this was part of their discussion during a recent meeting.
Lawyer Ibarra 'Barry' Gutierrez, Robredo’s spokesman, said the vice president remains open to the possibility of running again for the country’s second-highest post.
“She has said before that the idea remains on the table if it is necessary for a true collaboration among the various parties Again, it is testament to her commitment to the talks that she is willing to include this possibility in the discussion,” he stressed.
Under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, a vice president is allowed to be reelected for two consecutive terms but a president cannot.
Robredo remains undecided to run as president or not in the 2022 polls, opting instead to use the remaining week before the deadline of the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) to try to unite the opposition. She believes this is the best chance to defeat the administration’s bets.
READ: Robredo gives herself until Oct. 8 to decide on presidential bid
Pangilinan floated the possibility of Robredo running again as vice president as they discussed the matter during a recent meeting with Liberal Party (LP) members.
Robredo is the chairman of the once-ruling party while Pangilinan, who is seeking another term as senator, is the LP president.
The party earlier said the vice president has the “full authority and discretion” to come up with a list of candidates to add to its initial senatorial slate.
READ: LP bares initial Senate slate for 2022 polls, grants Robredo ‘full authority’ to form unity ticket
So far, LP has nominated Pangilinan, detained Senator Leila de Lima, and former senator Bam Aquino, who has yet to announce his political plans.
It also declared human rights lawyer Chel Diokno and Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros as guest senatorial candidates.
Robredo already said she is ready to run as president if the united opposition backs her up, but that might be impossible after the declarations of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Senator Manny Pacquiao.
She placed sixth place with an 8 percent score in the latest Pulse Asia election survey, lagging behind Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, former senator Bongbong Marcos, Moreno, Pacquiao, and Senator Grace Poe.