By Addison Pascua

PHOTO: ABS-CBN News

Vice President Leni Robredo said on Friday she will run for president in the 2022 national elections, if the united opposition chooses her, even if this means a head-to-head battle with former Sen. Bongbong Marcos, whom she won against in the 2016 vice-presidential election.

“Kung ano iyong mapili ng unity ticket, tatakbo ako. Kung ako iyon. Kung one-on-one na Bongbong Marcos, lalaban ako kahit dehado,” Robredo said in a chance interview with reporters.

“Kung kahit sino ang kalaban, basta ako iyong pipiliin ng anti-admin forces, laban ako. Iyong pineprevent ko kaya nag-e-exert ako ng effort na pag-isahin lahat,” she added.

In the 2016 vice presidential race, Robredo won over the only son and namesake of former president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos by 263,000 votes.

To recall, Marcos claimed last week he can win if he runs again against Robredo in 2022.

Around two weeks before the filing of candidacies for next year’s national and local elections, Robredo said she is determined to work until the “last day” to unite anti-administration forces in 2022.

"Hanggang sa last day, hindi ako — hindi ko ipe-prevent iyong sarili ko mag-exert ng effort to seek out itong mga ibang puwedeng maging partners for 2022. May kasabihan nga, ‘di ba, habang may buhay, may pag-asa," the vice president stated.

With this, Robredo hinted there are plans for her to meet both Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, two politicians who are being floated as potential candidates for president next year.

Robredo, however, declined to elaborate on this meeting saying she did not want to preempt and possibly cancel the talks.

"Mayroong plano pero hindi pa siya natutuloy. Pero ako kasi, ayaw ko rin na parang i-preempt. Ayaw kong i-preempt iyong detalye ng mga pinagmi-meetingan kasi ayaw ko rin na iyon pa maging dahilan para hindi matuloy iyong mga usapan," she claimed.

The filing of candidacies for president, vice president, and senator is set from Oct. 1 to 8.

Asked if Robredo was also in talks with Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who already declared his candidacy for president last week, she said, “Several times na nagsabi si Senator Lacson na sarado na siya."

“Pero ako, parati ko naman ina-aapeal kasi I am sure naman na mahal nila iyong bayan, iyong bansa, eh. Na ako, laging nag-a-appeal ako doon na iyon pa rin ang umiral sa dulo,” she bared.

Recognizing the difficulty in forming an alliance with other opposition figures from other political parties, Robredo said she doesn’t lose hope in finding the “best formula” for the 2022 elections.

“Pero sa akin, iyong hope ko lang ngayon na sana lahat kami magde-decide hindi to protect ourselves, hindi to protect our groups, pero kung ano ang iyong pinaka best formula para sa bayan natin,” Robredo asserted.


Report source: GMA News