Robredo admits talking with Pacquiao, other politicians about 2022 elections

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo has admitted to talking with Senator Manny Pacquiao, once a close ally of the administration, about the 2022 national elections.

Robredo said on Tuesday that she and Pacquiao met before the senator left for the United States (US) to prepare for his welterweight fight against Errol Spence Jr. — with another set of talks to happen once he gets back in the country.

However, the Vice President clarified that the discussions were merely about willingness to even discuss the elections, and not as far as calling for support for a particular candidate.

“Yes, I’ve spoken to him I think twice already, ‘yong sa akin mas exploratory, wala pang — ang pinag-uusapan pa lang namin ‘yong mga pakiramdam namin about the elections, ano ba ‘yong stand namin about this, mga gano’n lang naman ang tinatanong ko, wala pang pinag-uusapan kung sino ang susuportahan,” Robredo told CNN Philippines’ The Source.

“Ang tinitignan ko lang muna, would you be willing to sit down and talk further, ‘yong mga gano’n.  The last time I talked to Senator Manny was I think the day before he left for the US.  So ‘yong usapan namin ‘sige pagbalik mo mag-usap ulit tayo,” she added.

According to Robredo, she has already sat down with different political players, discussing matters about the upcoming elections which she deems very important for the opposition.

But she refused to divulge details as she respects the privacy of other individuals, noting that news of separate meetings with Senators Panfilo Lacson and Richard Gordon broke out because the senators themselves made the revelation.

“Yes, I’ve exerted every effort to reach out to almost everyone already.  Ano lang, I haven’t talked about it kasi hindi ko alam if they are comfortable na kine-kwento ko na nag-usap kami, pero I’ve always been very open that I am the one seeking, initiating discussions with almost everyone,” Robredo explained.

“Ang lumabas lang kasi ‘yong kay Senator Gordon because Senator Gordon talked about it, lumabas din ‘yong kay Senator Ping because he talked about it, pero ‘yong all the others gusto kong i-respeto ‘yong privacy,” she added.

Robredo has insisted several times now that she is open to a unified opposition slate that would feature a single candidate, for a higher chance of winning against the administration-backed candidate.

She also noted that the 2022 polls is not about whether she has ambitions of being president; rather, it is more about finding the best formula for the opposition.

Robredo is one of the political figures rumored to be making a run for the presidency, along with Lacson, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Senators Grace Poe and Richard Gordon, and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

As of now, only Lacson has  declared his presidential bid next year.

Robredo’s talks with Lacson appeared to take a bump when the two officials failed to agree on their unification plan, with the senator saying that the Vice President rejected his proposal that would have ushered in unity.

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