VP Leni Robredo officially announces her 2022 presidential bid
With just a day left before the end of filing for candidacy, Vice President Leni Robredo has announced that she will run for president in the 2022 elections on Thursday, Oct. 7.
Robredo she had planned to return to her province instead before deciding to run as president. She also shared how she was in talks with other presidential aspirants and how she was willing to give way to them.
"Handa akong magbigay-daan at tumulong na lang. May alok din sila na sumanib na lang ako bilang kandidato o bilang bahagi ng kanilang administrasyon sakalin manalo sila. Ang tugon ko, hindi ito tungkol sa posisyon," said Robredo.
Getting rid of 'old' and 'rotten' politics
But Robredo said the country needed a qualified leader to change the current state of politics, which she described as "old" and "rotten."
"Buong-buo ang loob ko ngayon," she said during a briefing held in her office at the Quezon City Reception House. "Kailangan natin palayain ang sarili sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon."
"Lalaban ako. Lalaban tayo. Inihahain ko ang aking sarili sa pagiging kandidato sa pagkapangulo," Robredo declared.
"Tatalunin natin ang luma at bulok na klase ng politika. Ibabalik natin sa kamay ng karaniwang Pilipino ang kakayahang magdala ng pagbabago."
She also bannered her accomplishments as VP and said she will be able to accomplish more as president.
"Kung naipatupad natin ang mga ito, imagine kung ano pa ang kaya nating gawin, kung saan pa ang kaya nating gawin kung maitutuon ang buong enerhiya ng gobyerno sa tangi nitong dapat intindihin—ang kapakanan ng taumbayan," Robredo said, promising to give her whole strength beyond the election period if she wins.
Robredo's also donned a pink ribbon as she made her announcement, ditching the now much-maligned yellow motif of the Liberal Party as she will now run as an independent candidate.
Opposition coalition 1Sambayan has named Robredo their presidential bet for the upcoming elections on Sept. 30.
Partylist group Akbayan also endorsed the VP for president, tying symbolic pink ribbons along Tomas Morato Ave. in Quezon City to show support for Robredo.
"Anim na taon ang nakaraan, tinanggap ko ang hamon na tumakbo sa pagka-Bise Presidente. Ngayon, sasabak tayo sa mas malaking laban," Robredo said.
"Buong-buo ang tiwala ko, magtatagumpay tayo," she concluded.
Robredo is set to formalize her bid, filing her certificate of candidacy for president at 3PM on Oct. 7.
1Sambayan convenor retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio said that Robredo will announce her running mate at 4PM. He adds former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV will lead the opposition coalition's senatorial slate.