Vice President Leni Robredo faces the media after announcing her tandem with Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan as her running mate in the 2022 national elections. Screengrab from Facebook / Vice President Leni Robredo
MANILA, Philippines — Just a week before deciding to run, Vice President Leni Robredo said she was about ready to give up her presidential bid.
Asked during her press briefing on Friday, Robredo said that it was only last week that she decided to revive her bid for the presidency.
“I was already there, nagpalit lang ‘yong decision last week,” she told reporters.
And as to what made her change her mind, Robredo said that it was a realization from the discussions she made with other presidential bets — that it is hard to forge an alliance when you cannot agree on key issues.
“‘Yong realization na this is the right thing to do, dahil ang realization from the talks na mahirap ipilit na hindi naman kayo aligned, it would have been the easiest thing for me,” she said, when asked what was the biggest factor in her decision.
In her press briefing, Robredo was adamant that in the 2022 national elections, they are the opposition as other candidates have refused to associate themselves with parties opposing the current administration.
“Lumalabas naman kasi ngayon kami talaga ‘yong oposisyon, wala namang lumalabas na kapareho namin in the sense na mula umpisa nakipaglaban talaga,” she noted.
Robredo on Thursday joined an already crowded race for the presidency. Joining her are aspirants Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Senator Panfilo Lacson, Senator Manny Pacquiao, former senator Bongbong Marcos, and labor leader Leody de Guzman.
But prior to arriving at her decision to again seek the presidency, Robredo tried to discuss issues with Moreno, Pacquiao, and Lacson in an attempt to create the biggest opposition coalition that could challenge President Rodrigo Duterte’s anointed candidate and block the return of the Marcoses to power.
Talks however failed as the other candidates have pushed through with their respective presidential bids.
On Thursday, Robredo revealed in her speech that in her talks with the other candidates, there were offers for her to run or join other tickets. But she maintained that the goal of her unity discussions was not about politics or garnering support for her candidacy — but to identify if they share the same principles and vision.
READ: Robredo reveals reason for breakdown of unity talks with other candidates
Robredo is running as an independent candidate in the 2022 polls, despite being the chairperson of the Liberal Party. According to her, running as an independent is a symbolic way to show inclusivity.
READ: Robredo says running as independent is ‘symbolic way’ of showing inclusivity
READ: ‘Buong-buo ang loob ko’: Robredo to run for president in 2022