Vice President Leni Robredo.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo is set to make an announcement about her political plans on Thursday, October 7, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) confirmed.
According to a statement on Tuesday from Robredo’s spokesperson Barry Gutierrez, the Vice President will make her address at around 11:00 a.m. on Thursday.
“VP Leni will make an important announcement this Thursday, Oct 7, at 11 am. Please stay tuned,” Gutierrez said in a tweet.
VP Leni will make an important announcement this Thursday, Oct 7, at 11 am. Please stay tuned.
— Barry Gutierrez (@barrygutierrez3) October 5, 2021
Robredo’s announcement is expected to end the months-long speculation about whether she would run for president, pursue a local post, or retire from politics. October 7 would also mark exactly one week since opposition coalition 1Sambayan picked her to be its presidential bet for the 2022 national elections.
After the announcement, 1Sambayan lead convener and former associate justice Antonio Carpio said that the chances of Robredo declining their nomination is very remote.
If ever Robredo decides to run for president, she will have only until Friday, October 8, to file her certificate of candidacy before the Commission on Elections.
Recently, the Vice President said that she would wait until the last day of the filing of certificates of candidacy as she would try to forge a united opposition slate. Prior to the filing of COCs, Robredo tried to talk to other possible candidates including Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao.
But talks failed as all have expressed their intent to run for the presidency, with Moreno and Pacquiao having filed their own COCs already.
READ: Robredo, still gripped by indecision, tells LP: I’m aware time is running out
According to her, two of the primary factors she is weighing in before making a decision on a possible presidential run is her desire to stop the Marcoses from returning to power, and to prevent another brand of governance similar to President Rodrigo Duterte.
Earlier, former senator Bongbong Marcos announced his bid for the presidency, saying that he will provide a unifying style of leadership.
Marcos and Robredo have previously faced in a grueling vice presidential race, where Robredo won. Marcos, son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, claimed that he was cheated and eventually filed a complaint before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.
But the PET last February unanimously dismissed Marcos’ poll protest for lack of merit.