Election lawyer urges VP Robredo to join 2022 presidential race

Vice President Leni Robredo, INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — An election lawyer on Sunday urged Vice President Leni Robredo to run for president in the 2022 polls, saying she embodies “good leadership” which the country needs right now.

According to election lawyer Antonio Carlos Bautista, “bad leadership” is the reason why the country is now in its present situation.

“Since bad leadership put us in this situation, it is good leadership that can get us out of it. And I will be more direct–this 2022, we must elect a leader who is well capable not just of getting us through but also growing us through, this problem,” Bautista said.

Bautista added that the country’s next president should be a leader that is “not just economic savvy, but one who has a deliberate heart to unify the country and dismiss divisiveness.”

That candidate is Robredo, according to Bautista.

Bautista was one of Robredo’s co-counsels in the election protest lodged by former senator Bongbong Marcos.

“I would say with all objectiveness that it is Vice President Leni Robredo who has shown the capability, energy, and the heart to face the toughest problems, even with minimum resources,” he said.

“Her track record speaks for her. With a meager budget, she has helped so many and delivered meaningful and impactful service,” Bautista added.

Robredo, said Bautista, is not interested in politicking, but a “true economic manager.”

“At this time, this is exactly the kind of leader that we need. One who is not interested in politicking and encouraging divisiveness, but a true economic manager who is laser-focused on solving tasks-at-hand,” said Bautista.

Robredo, meanwhile, has yet to confirm her plans for the 2022 national elections.

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV earlier announced that he would be running for president after claiming that Robredo plans to run as governor of Camarines Sur.

Robredo however denied this claim and affirmed that she is still open to run for the presidency in the 2022 elections.

Meanwhile, the newly formed political coalition 1Sambayan on June 13, named Robredo as one of its choices to run against the Duterte administration’s candidate for the presidency in 2022.

Also on the list are Trillanes, Sen. Grace Poe, Rep. Eddie Villanueva of the Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) party-list, human rights lawyer Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno, and Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto.

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