Will 2022 polls see Leni Robredo vs Sara Duterte for president?

Vice President Leni Robredo (left) and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio (File photos from Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Will voters see a presidential face-off between Vice President Leni Robredo and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in 2022?

Robredo has brushed off the possibility.

Speaking with reporters after meeting with multisectoral leaders in San Fernando City, Pampanga, on Monday, Robredo said she already had a lot on her plate as Vice President.

“Iyong sa akin lang, magiging masama para sa akin kung ang iisipin ko 2022 kasi ang dami kong ginagawa bilang Pangalawang Pangulo,” she said.

[In my view, it will be bad for me to think of 2022 because I’m doing a lot as Vice President.]

Robredo also said that, if she were to shift her focus on the elections, it would force her to think of visiting vote-rich areas.

“Mayroon akong Angat Buhay. Kapag 2022 iyong iisipin ko, ang parati ko nang konsiderasyon iyong eleksyon,” she said, referring to her flagship anti-poverty project.

[I have Angat Buhay. If I think of 2022, I will always the elections on my mind.]

“Kapag ang konsiderasyon ko eleksyon, parati na sigurong magiging requirement ko, dapat pupuntahan namin na mga community maraming botante. Dapat iyong pupuntahan naming community hindi sayang sa oras,” she added.

[When the elections are a consideration, my requirement would probably always be to go to communities where there are a lot of voters. The communities we will go to should not be a waste of time.]

She made these remarks on being asked if it would be possible that she would run for the country’s top executive post against the presidential daughter.

“Iyong sa akin kasi, iyong pagiging Pangulo, destiny iyon… Iyong kasaysayan natin nagpapakita na hindi ito napapaghandaan,” Roberdo said. “Maraming nagbalak. Pero kapag para sa iyo ito, magiging sa iyo. Kapag hindi talaga ito para sa iyo, kahit anong gawin mo, hindi sa iyo ibibigay.”

[For me, becoming President is a matter of destiny… Our history has show that it’s not something you prepare for. Many have tried. But if it’s meant for you then it will be yours. If it’s not really meant for you, whatever you do, it won’t be given.]

Earlier, Duterte-Carpio has given herself until January 2021 to decide whether or not she would seek the presidency.

“Yung pagtakbo kasi ng Presidente hindi ‘yan overnight na decision,” Duterte-Carpio told reporters after the campaign sortie of her Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) party in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.

READ: Sara Duterte to decide on presidential bid by 2021

“It needs money, machinery, at pinaka-importante sa lahat, yung wisdom at guidance ng Panginoon. Siguro gawa nalang tayo ng deadline — January of 2021,” she added.

[It needs money, machinery, and most important of all, the wisdom and guidance of God. Maybe let’s just set a deadline — January of 2021.] /atm