Robredo says running for senator already out of her options

Former Vice President Leni Robredo. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Former Vice President Leni Robredo has ruled out running for senator in the 2025 midterm elections.

In an interview with local reporters in Naga City, Camarines Sur, Robredo said she had informed the Liberal Party (LP) about her decision.

“I have closed doors on that. That’s why I informed LP about it. That’s why I told LP I would not run for the Senate. I told them that my preference was to gun for the mayoral post of Naga,” she explained in Filipino.

Robredo’s plans to run for the Naga mayoral race — a post once occupied by her late husband, former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo — was first revealed by the LP president, Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman.

Lagman said it in an interview with reporters at the Batasang Pambansa complex after being asked about the possibility that Robredo would get nominated for the vacant Education secretary post.

Vice President Sara Duterte resigned as Education secretary last Wednesday.

READ: Leni Robredo may run for Naga City mayor in the 2025 polls, says Lagman

Robredo said she did not know if it was Lagman’s official statement, but she noted that the context of the interview was a possible offer for her to be Education secretary.

“I don’t know if that was an official statement, but the context of the interview with Congressman Edcel Lagman was about a supposed offer for Attorney Leni to be the Education secretary.  That’s my understanding.  But when I read the headlines, it seems my actions were preempted,” she explained.

“Everyone knows that my preferred option is to be Naga’s mayor. But I do not want to make an official announcement while I have not yet tied loose ends,” she added.