After months of anticipation and with just a day left in the filing of certificates of candidacy, Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday finally announced that she is running for the presidency in the 2022 national elections. Robredo announced her decision during a briefing in her office at the Quezon City Reception House.
Robredo, a vocal critic of Duterte’s controversial drug war, would likely be the only opposition candidate in a crowded field in the May 2022 elections. Duterte, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a second term, had declared in August he would run for the vice presidency. But in a surprise announcement Saturday, he said he would retire — which was met with deep skepticism among analysts. Duterte made a similar announcement in September 2015, saying he “will retire from public life for good” only to declare his presidential bid two months later. Duterte has not named a successor, but claimed that his daughter Sara will run alongside his longtime assistant Senator Christopher Go.
Robredo, 56, was pushing for a United Opposition Slate for the 2022 National Elections, hence the late decision to enter the presidential race. Prior to the filing of certificates of candidacy, she sat down and talked with other possible candidates including Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Senators Panfilo Lacson, and Senator Manny Pacquiao. Per Inquirer.
“Buong-buo ang loob ko ngayon… Tinatanggap ko ang hamon na tumakbo,” said Robredo in her speech. Her announcement ended months of speculation about whether she would run for president, pursue a local post, or retire from politics. This also meant that Robredo is now accepting the nomination of opposition coalition ‘1Sambayan’ to be its presidential bet for the upcoming polls.
Robredo is a human rights lawyer and widow of a former interior minister, leads the opposition and has been critical of current Rodrigo Duterte and his bloody fight against drugs.
