‘TEAM NAGA’ Former Vice President Leni Robredo (6th from right) poses with her “Team Naga” city slate for the 2025 local elections. They are (from left) Elmer Baldemoro, Dr. Jess Albeus, Gayle Abonal-Gomez, Frank Mendoza, lawyer Ariez Macaraig, Camarines Sur 3rd District Rep. Gabby Bordado (vice mayoral bet), Dr. Butch Borja, lawyer Miles Raquid-Arroyo, Omar Buenafe, Joe Perez and Ghiel Rosales. —MICHAEL JAUCIAN
NAGA CITY—Former Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo officially announced her candidacy for mayor of Naga City, while also unveiling the “Team Naga” slate under the Liberal Party (LP) for the 2025 elections.
In a press briefing here on Friday, Robredo, who has deep political roots in this independent city in Camarines Sur, said the selection process for her team involved consultations with city residents, various sectors and local organizations.
“We encouraged the community to nominate and assess potential candidates,” Robredo shared, adding that the practice was started by her late husband, Jesse Robredo, who was a longtime mayor of the city (1988-1998, 2001-2010) hailed for his good governance practices before he was appointed secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government by then President Benigno Simeon Aquino III in July 2010.
Jesse Robredo died in a plane crash off Masbate Island on Aug. 18, 2012, as he was returning home to Naga City from Cebu.
Leni, then a practicing lawyer for the marginalized sector under the Naga-based alternative legal group Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligan or Saligan, was convinced to join politics and ran in 2013 for the third district seat of Camarines Sur, trouncing Nelly Favis Villafuerte, the matriarch of the powerful Villafuerte clan.
Where strength lies
Leni went on to win the vice presidential race in 2016, narrowly defeating Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who, in turn, defeated her in the 2022 presidential elections.
When asked why she chose to run for mayor instead of gunning for a Senate seat as proposed by her party mates in LP, Leni explained: “I know my strengths, and I excel in executive roles. I genuinely love community work, and my skill set is better suited for the mayor’s office than the Senate.”
Leni’s vice mayoral running mate will be outgoing Camarines Sur third district Rep. Gabby Bordado, who had also previously served as Naga’s vice mayor during Jesse’s administration.
Leni said more than 2,000 Nagueños took part in the consultations, which scrutinized candidates based on their “integrity, experience and dedication to public service and community empowerment.”
Joining Leni on her slate are incumbent Councilors Gayle Abonal-Gomez, Jess Albeus, Omar Buenafe, Ghiel “Oying” Rosales and Jose Perez; outgoing city administrator Elmer Baldemoro; former city health officer Dr. Butch Borja; outgoing city budget officer Frank Mendoza; former councilor Miles Raquid- Arroyo; and lawyer Ariez Macaraig.
Leni and her slate are scheduled to file their certificates of candidacy (COC) on Saturday.
According to Leni, she will support Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan’s senate bids as LP candidates.
She said she will also resign as chairperson and president of Angat Buhay, a foundation she organized after losing the presidency in 2022, once she has filed her COC for the city’s mayoral race.
It is not known yet who will be her opponent as the incumbent mayor, Nelson Legacion, has yet to announce if he will seek reelection or run for the province’s third district congressional seat. INQ