‘Buong-buo ang loob ko’: Robredo to run for president in 2022

MANILA, Philippines — After months of anticipation and with just a day left in the filing of certificates of candidacy, Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday finally announced that she is running for the presidency in the 2022 national elections.

Robredo said during her speech at her office in the Quezon City Reception House that she is now ready to fight it out in the upcoming polls, even if she will face an uphill battle just to end the people’s sufferings.

“Naniniwala ako ang pag-ibig nasusukat hindi lang sa pagtitiis, kundi sa kahandaang lumaban, kahit gaano kahirap, para matapos na ang pagtitiis. Ang nagmamahal, kailangangang ipaglaban ang minamahal,” Robredo said.

(I firmly believe: Love is not measured by forbearance alone but by a readiness to do battle. Whoever loves must do battle for the beloved.)

“Buong-buo ang loob ko ngayon. Kailangan nating palayain ang ating sarili mula sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon. Lalaban ako, lalaban tayo, inihahain ko ang aking sarili bilang kandidato sa pagka-pangulo sa halalan ng 2022,” she added.

(Today, I stand with total resolve: We must break free from the current situation. I will fight. We will fight. I offer myself as a candidate for the presidency in the 2022 elections.)

In measured tones, Robredo said the country would be at a disadvantage if people with personalities similar to the present kind of governance would win in the 2022 national elections.

“Malinaw sa lahat ang hamon na kinakaharap natin, nakita na nating lahat ang pagsisinungaling at panggigipit na kayang gawin ng iba para maabot ang mga layunin nila. Nasa kanila ang pera, makinarya, isang buong istrukturang kayang magpalaganap ng anumang kwentong gusto nilang palabasin,” she further said.

(The challenge before us is clear: We have all heard or witnessed how others use lies and harassment to get their way. Money, machinery, and an entire infrastructure allow them to spread whichever story they choose.)

“Pero hindi kayang tabunan ng kahit anumang ingay ang katotohanan. Kung parehong uri ng pamamahala at pareho ang pagkatao ng mga magwawagi sa araw ng halalan, wala tayong aasahang pagbabago. Dito tayo po-posisyon,” she claimed.

(But no amount of noise can ever drown out the truth: If the same kind of governance, the same kind of people triumphs in the coming elections, then we cannot expect change to happen.)

Robredo announced her decision during a briefing in her office at the Quezon City Reception House.

Her announcement ended months of speculation about whether she would run for president, pursue a local post, or retire from politics. This also meant that Robredo is now accepting the nomination of opposition coalition 1Sambayan to be its presidential bet for the upcoming polls.

Robredo was pushing for a united opposition slate for the 2022 national elections, hence the late decision to enter the presidential race. Before the filing of certificates of candidacy, she sat down and talked with other possible candidates, including Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Senators Panfilo Lacson, and Senator Manny Pacquiao.

But it appears that the talks failed as all have expressed their intent to run for the presidency, with all three having already filed their own COCs.

READ: Robredo, still gripped by indecision, tells LP: I’m aware time is running out 

EDV