LP eyes Robredo as presidential bet in 2022

MANILA, Philippines — The opposition Liberal Party (LP) is considering Vice President Leni Robredo as its presidential candidate for the 2022 polls even if she has yet to decide on whether she will run, party president and Sen. Francis Pangilinan said yesterday.

He maintained that the LP has yet to discuss the May 2022 presidential and national elections as the party and Robredo are focused on providing economic and livelihood assistance to Filipinos badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Of course, she is the highest official of the party and the highest-ranked elected official among us, so she is also being considered,” said Pangilinan when asked if LP is considering Robredo as possible standard-bearer for the 2022 polls.

“The VP is really focused on the COVID-19 problem. She has said that she has not yet made a decision, that much more could happen… so our focus now is how we can help our people amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added during an online interview with Senate reporters.

Saying that the “election is still far away,” he refused to comment on reports that many groups are pushing presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to succeed her father and run for the presidential elections in May 2022.

He, however, acknowledged that the LP camp is making consultations and recruitment to expand membership in preparation for the coming elections.

“(The elections in) 2022 is really all about voters. Let’s just keep recruiting at the bottom, helping to overcome COVID, economic issues first, political issues can wait,” Pangilinan noted.

In 2019, the LP-led opposition failed to win even one of the 12 Senate seats at stake. The filing of candidacy for the 2022 polls is tentatively set for October this year.

As of yesterday, the online petition “I am Ready for Leni” that urges Robredo to run for president has garnered over 20,000 signatures.

“It is our deepest desire to see the Philippines back on its way to being one of the most economically progressive, politically transparent, humane and respected countries in Asia. We believe that Vice President Leni Robredo can lead us to this goal by leading the country as the next duly-elected President in 2022,” the petition stated.

But Robredo’s spokesman Barry Gutierrez said “VP Leni is currently focused on working to help our fellow Filipinos overcome the challenges of the pandemic and the long quarantine. This is the need of the moment and her priority right now. Everything else will be addressed at the proper time.”

Meanwhile, Malacañang was mum on the report that President Duterte identified nine Cabinet secretaries as potential senatorial candidates during last Wednesday’s meeting.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, one of the officials reportedly mentioned by the President, said Cabinet meetings are covered by executive privilege.

“I think those things, since they are not part of the agenda, will remain to be confidential. So, I cannot comment on that,” Roque said at a press briefing.

Quoting two unnamed sources, the news website Politiko said the officials mentioned by Duterte were Roque, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo and peace adviser and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr.

Three of Duterte’s former ranking officials won during the 2019 senatorial race – Sen. Bong Go, his former special assistant; Ronald dela Rosa, former police chief and former political affairs adviser Francis Tolentino. – Pia Lee-Brago, Romina Cabrera, Alexis Romero