MANILA, Philippines — The possibility of Vice President Leni Robredo declining 1Sambayan’s nomination for the 2022 presidential elections is a “very remote possibility,” former senior associate justice Antonio Carpio said on Thursday.
During the 1Sambayan’s announcement, Carpio, who is the lead convener of the group, had been asked multiple times if Robredo might reject 1Sambayan’s offer – given that she has yet to decide on her next political moves.
Asked if 1Sambayan had any backup plan in case Robredo declined to run for president or decided to run for vice president as floated by Senator Francis Pangilinan on Wednesday, Carpio said:
“Well, as I said, we will reconvene and decide what to do. We have not thought of that possibility because we think it is quite remote, but under our rules, we will reconvene and discuss it.”
“It would be premature for me to speculate what the 1Sambayan will decide […] So we would like to leave this issue on the basis that we have offered, we have nominated and chosen VP Leni as our standard-bearer, and we hope that she will accept, and she said that she is willing to face the public again in an election to prevent the return of the dictatorship and regime of plunderers, so we are hopeful that she will accept,” he added.
Another reporter pressed further, asking if former senator Antonio Trillanes – who the coalition said was its top pick for vice president – would replace Robredo should she drop out of the race.
Once again, Carpio dismissed the idea as remote.
“Well as I said we will reconvene and discuss that because that’s a new development, and we have not really looked into that because personally, I think it’s a very remote possibility that VP Leni will decline,” he noted.
Earlier, 1Sambayan announced that it had nominated Vice President Leni Robredo as its presidential candidate for the May 2022 elections, surpassing other candidates in Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Trillanes, Senators Manny Pacquiao and Panfilo Lacson.
READ: 1Sambayan poll: Robredo, Trillanes top picks for president, VP
READ: 1Sambayan picks Robredo as presidential candidate for 2022 polls
Carpio said they expect Robredo’s response to their nomination soon. Furthermore, he said that the Vice President is currently in Bicol, without giving any specific information as to why she is there.
“She is now in Bicol, she was on her way to Bicol when we made our decision. We expect to meet with her and explain why we have chosen her,” Carpio said.
At this point, Robredo has not yet made any public statements about her political plans but has said in the past that she is either looking for a new job or retiring altogether from politics.
Earlier, Robredo was advised to talk with Senator Manny Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno in order to have a greater chance against the candidates who will be fielded by the administration.
READ: Robredo ready for backlash if she drops out of presidential race
READ: With PH survival at stake, opposition must unite for its toughest campaign – Colmenares