LP standard-bearer Mar Roxas and vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo pose with “Laban” sign after filing their candidacies on Thursday. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net
LIBERAL Party’s vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo does not mind being the second choice of party standard-bearer Mar Roxas.
In fact, the Camarines Sur Representative said it is an honor and privilege that Roxas considered her for the post despite her unpreparedness and lack of experience in national elections.
“It doesn’t matter if I was the second choice or the last choice. Iyong pakiramdam na we have obligations bigger than ourselves, hindi mo na maiisip kung pang-ilang choice ka,” Robredo said in an interview with ANC on Thursday.
Senator Grace Poe, who had consistently topped in preference surveys, was Roxas’ first choice but she turned down LP’s offer and decided to challenge Roxas in the presidential race.
Robredo and Roxas made official their election run on the fourth day of the filing of candidacies at the Commission on Elections’ main office in Palacio del Gobernador, Intramuros, Manila.
They filed their certificates of candidacy on the same day their tough rivals Poe and her running mate Senator Francis Escudero submitted their COCs.
Stressing that she had no intention of running for higher office, Robredo said her being chosen was like scanning a food menu. “Ako ang huling makikita kasi walang balak na tumaas nang ganito,” she said.
Raising low survey ranking
Robredo also admitted that she will have to double her efforts to introduce herself to the people and raise her survey rankings to keep up with the vice presidential race.
“Compared to all the other contenders, I have the least resource; ako iyong least popular. So talagang doble kayod. My numbers are still low. Kailangan talagang pagsipagan,” Robredo said.
But asked what she could offer that other vice presidential aspirants do not have, Robredo said it would be her heart for the grassroots, which she shares with Roxas.
“Palagay ko I will be a good match to Secretary Mar Roxas, kasi ang puso talaga sa grassroots nandoon…Totoong wala akong karanasan sa national politics pero palagay ko makakadagdag sa tandem naming dahil ako ang makakapagbigay ng local flavor,” she said. Julliane Love de Jesus
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