Robredo's widow running for Congress

MANILA, Philippines - Leni Robredo, widow of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, threw her hat in the political arena yesterday, filing her certificate of candidacy for congresswoman of Camarines Sur’s third district.

She had earlier professed lack of interest in politics, but her supporters said a strong clamor from her husband’s constituents apparently prompted her to change her mind.

Robredo is up against Nelly Villafuerte, a former member of the Monetary Board and wife of “graduating” third-term Rep. Luis Villafuerte.

The Robredos and the Villafuerte side of the incumbent third-district congressman are political rivals, and so are the elder Villafuerte and his son and incumbent Gov. Luis Ray “LRay” Villafuerte.

Governor Villafuerte is fielding his son Miguel against his father in the gubernatorial race. The governor is running for congressman in the second district against incumbent Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo, younger son of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Mrs. Robredo is running under the banner of the Liberal Party (LP), while Mrs. Villafuerte is the candidate of LP’s alliance partner Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

Thus, there would be no common congressional candidate in the third district, which would be considered a free zone.

A third district potential congressional aspirant, former solicitor general Anselmo Cadiz, has given way to Mrs. Robredo.

Before entering politics, Mrs. Robredo was an applicant for regional trial court judge in CamSur and Albay.

In fact, she was in the shortlist of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) for vacancies in the two provinces.

She later wrote the JBC to express her preference for any vacant regional trial court judge position in Quezon City, where her children are based and where the Robredos have a condominium unit.

Aside from the second and third districts where Gov. Villafuerte and his mother will slug it out against Mrs. Robredo and Dato Arroyo, another interesting congressional race looms in the fourth district.

Former Rep. William Felix Fuentebella, son of third-term congressman and Deputy Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella, will fight actor Aga Muhlach, who joined the ruling LP just recently.

In the first and fifth districts, incumbent Representatives Rolando Andaya Jr. and Salvio Fortuno are seeking reelection.

The first district is the bailiwick of the Andayas. This was where Dato’s second district was taken. Then Sen. Benigno Aquino III questioned the creation of the Arroyo district, but the Supreme Court upheld its separation from the Andayas’ constituency.

Anticipating criticism of her having backtracked on a promise to shun politics, Robredo said she decided to run for congresswoman “to honor” her late husband.

“I thought there would be a lot of criticism. I wasn’t sure if I was doing the right thing so I relied on gut feel,” she said in Filipino.

“It’s in my husband’s honor. I know it’s important to him that I nurture the group that he had established,” she said. “Kung si President Cory at President Aquino nag-retreat pa para mag-isip, ako binigyan ng dalawang oras (If President Cory and President Aquino had to go on a retreat to reflect, I was given only two hours),” she said.

Leni was accompanied by her youngest daughter Jillian Therese and hundreds of supporters clad in yellow shirts when she filed her COC.

Leni’s two other daughters Jessica Marie (Aika) and Janine Patricia (Tricia) are in Quezon City.

“Want to be in Naga to be with @lenirobredo right now. Sending love and prayers from Manila, Ma!” Aika said in her message on Twitter.

Leni said she and her daughters are still grieving over the death of the head of their family.

She said she had to convince her daughter that her decision would help carry on the legacy of their father.

Leni said she had been very supportive of the candidacy for Congress of Naga City Vice Mayor Gabby Bordado, and that she did not know that he had withdrawn.

Bordado was supposed to run as congressman in the third district of Camarines Sur but withdrew and decided to endorse Robredo.

“The LP is honored to nominate attorney Lenny Robredo as a congressional candidate for third district of Camarines Sur. It was a very difficult decision on her part,” said LP acting president Joseph Emilio Abaya.

“We can only be appreciative of her desire to continue what Jesse has done. She could have opted for the easy path of keeping a quiet life and taking care of her daughters, but just like Sec Jesse she has responded to a higher calling,” he added.

“The LP assures her of the party’s full support to the call of the people of Camarines Sur for Leni to run and be elected as representative of the third district,” the transportation secretary said.

For his part, presidential spokesman Edwin lauded Robredo’s move.

“The decision of Leni to run for Congress was a difficult one for her to make, but now that she has decided we wish her all the best. We are confident that if elected she will capably bear the torch of good governance in the name of her late husband,” he said. With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Delong Porcalla, Celso Amo