Vice President Leni Robredo said Sunday that the opposition must work together in the lead-up to the 2022 presidential elections and that if she decides to run, she will go all-in.
Robredo said this after Sen. Panfilo Lacson stated last week that she “resisted” a “sure unity formula” he proposed during their first meeting.
In a statement, the vice president’s office said she responded to Lacson during her weekly radio show, where she disclosed that the proposed “formula” demanded that all contenders engaged in these unification talks file their certificates of candidacy. Then, at a “certain time before the elections,” everyone else will withdraw to “support” the strongest candidate as dictated by survey ratings.
Robredo said she pushed back against the proposition because she didn’t want to lead her followers astray, thinking that the opposition’s allies must unite before the October filing deadline. She also said that if she announces her candidacy, she would be fully dedicated to seeing the campaign through.
“Simple iyong dahilan ko sa pagtutol doon sa proposal: Sa akin, kapag nag-file ako, kailangan kong ituloy ang laban. Kapag nag-file ako, hindi ako puwedeng umatras kahit gaano pa kahirap kasi pinresinta ko na iyong sarili ko sa publiko,” she said on her program BISErbisyong LENI.
Robredo has been reaching out to other potential contenders, in a bid to push for a united opposition before the filing of certificates of candidacy in October.
Despite setbacks, she said she remains hopeful to find the “best formula” and build a broader base, in order to boost the opposition’s chances in next year’s polls.
“May panahon pa naman para puliduhin ang mga engagements at usapan. May mga bagay na mas urgent kasi ECQ nga sa maraming lugar ngayon. Siyempre tuloy ang kalat ng Delta variant, whether magkasundo kami o hindi,” she said.
“Pero pagpaalala din na iyong filing ng candidacy mga two months from now, and konektado din dito sa pandemic kung gaano kahalaga na magkaisa kami. Kasi pinapakita ng pandemic kung gaano kahalaga na mahusay iyong gobyerno niya. Kasi talagang matter of life and death para sa ating lahat kung iyong gobyerno niya hindi nakakapag-respond na mas maayos,” she added.
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