Robredo: I will run if the unity ticket chooses me
MANILA TIMES
VICE President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo said on Friday she will run in the 2022 national elections if the unity ticket chooses her, and even if this means running again against former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“Kung ano iyong mapili ng unity ticket, tatakbo ako. Kung ako iyon. Kung one-on-one na Bongbong Marcos, lalaban ako kahit dehado. Kung one-on-one na Bongbong Marcos at saka ako, laban ako,” she said.
(Whatever the unity ticket chooses, I will run. If it’s going to be me. If it will be one-on-one with Bongbong Marcos, I’ll fight even if I’m at a disadvantage.)
“Iyon, kung kahit sino ang kalaban, basta ako iyong pipiliin ng anti-admin forces, laban ako. Iyong pine-prevent ko lang naman na kami-kami maghihiwa-hiwalay. Iyon iyong pine-prevent ko kaya nag-e-exert ako ng effort na pag-isahin lahat.”
(Whoever the opponent is, If the anti-administration forces choose me, I’ll fight. The only thing I want to prevent is our separation. That’s what I’m preventing so I’m exerting effort to unite everyone.)
Marcos has yet to announce his political plans but has expressed his intention to run for the highest position. He also said that he will beat the Vice President should they face off in the presidential race.
Robredo said she will give herself three weeks to decide.
The filing of Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) is scheduled from Oct. 1 to 8, 2021.
Meanwhile, the Vice President also said she was determined to exert effort until the “last day” to seek unity.
“Hanggang sa last day, hindi ako-hindi ko ipe-prevent iyong sarili ko mag-exert ng effort to seek out itong mga ibang pwedeng maging partners for 2022. May kasabihan nga, ‘di ba, habang may buhay, may pagasa. So hanggang pwede pa na magkaroon ng pagkakaisa, susubukan pa rin natin,” she said.
(Until the last day, I will not prevent myself from exerting effort to seek out potential partners for 2022. There’s a saying right? If there’s life, there’s hope. So, if we can still have unity. We will try our best.)
With this, Robredo also confirmed a plan to meet with other potential candidates for president in 2022, Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.
“Mayroong plano pero hindi pa siya natutuloy. Pero ako kasi, ayaw ko rin na parang i-preempt. Ayaw kong i-preempt iyong detalye ng mga pinagmi-mitingan kasi ayaw ko rin na iyon pa tuloy iyong maging dahilan para hindi matuloy iyong mga usapan,” the Vice President said.
(There’s a plan but it has yet to push through. But for me, I don’t want to preempt. I don’t want to preempt the details of the meeting because I don’t want it to be the reason for the meeting not to push through.)
Liberal Party Vice President for Internal Affairs Teddy Baguilat, meanwhile, said in a tweet, “let’s pray for discernment of VPL. Developments are happening fast and the ground forces have done their best to prepare for 2022.”
“Hinihintay na lang kung ano ang kumpas (We’re just waiting for her pronouncement). Whatever is the decision, we will do our best to support what’s best for the country,” he said.
