Robredo still in ‘exploratory talks’ with other possible bets in 2022 elections

By: Zacarian Sarao - 3 years ago

Vice President Leni Robredo joined Manila Mayor Isko Moreno to oversee the drive-through vaccination at the CCP Complex in Manila on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. On Tuesday, July 20, Robredo said she was in “exploratory talks” with other possible bets in the 2022 national elections, including Moreno. But she said she could not yet reveal who the others were. (File photo by MARIANNE BERMUDEZ/ Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo is still in “exploratory talks” with other potential presidential candidates of the opposition in the 2022 national elections.

That was her response when asked whether he had already talked with Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso about the elections.

“There are initial exploratory talks, not just with Mayor Isko … but with some other contenders,” Robredo said, partly in Filipino, during the second run of Vaccine Express in Manila.

“I won’t tell you yet who they are because I have no authority to say it,” she added. “But we’re at in talks that are exploratory about what commonalities do we have we can agree on and are we willing to sit down, you know, so that we will have — not even a common candidate yet — the chance to explore. Do we understand each other on the more important things?”

According to Robredo, there’s a lot to consider — like their stand on political issues like corruption and human violations — before coming up with a decision on whether or not she will run or just support another candidate.

“So we are more on that stage because I think it”s more important,” Robredo said. “The elections are not just a matter of ‘I will be your ally because it’s convenient, but I will go with you even if we have differences because what’s important are the things we agree on.’”

Robredo said she understood her supporters’ anxiety about her decision for next year. But she said it was no longer about whether she would want to run or not, but it was about the viability of the candidate and how it would affect the country.

“What would be good not for me but for the country? Would it be good if I would be the one to run? Would it be good if I support someone else? So there are so many, like, moving parts that have to be taken into consideration,” she said.

Last February, Robredo said that she was open to the possibility of running for president in the 2022 elections, though she preferred to run for local office.

But in June, Robredo quashed rumors of her gunning for the gubernatorial post in Camarines Sur by saying that she was still open to running for president.

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