Updated: October 8, 2021, 10:40 A.M.
Philippines
Repeat battle between Robredo and Bongbong Marcos
Charmaine Rodriguez Kara
Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo today ( October 7 in the Philippines) announced her plan to run for president in the May 2022 elections after she was nominated by the political opposition coalition 1Sambayan which called the Philippines a “country on its knees.”
The 56-year old widow will be running as an Independent candidate although she is still a member of the Liberal Party.
“Inihahain ko ang aking sarili bilang kandidato sa pagkapangulo sa halalan ng 2022,” she said in a much anticipated 15-minute speech announcing her plans to succeed Philippine strongman Rodrigo Duterte.
The public message drew much excitement from supporters who had been waiting for her decision since Monday, October 4, 2021—the first day for the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for national positions.
The announcement is seen by some as a repeat battle between Robredo and Bongbong Marcos who lost to Robredo in the 2016 vice -presidential elections.
Vancouver supporters
Treenee Lopez of Global Pinoy Diaspora Canada -Global Filipinos For Leni , issued the following statement when sought for comment by PhilippineCanadianNew.Com.
“After VP Leni Robredo announced her acceptance of her 2022 presidential nomination as the opposition bet we took a sigh of relief , personally myself I know she will run despite of so many discussions, hearsay, that she’s not running. From my own observation from interviews, articles on her, she’s the type that will not shirk from the Filipino people. She’s wide -eyed what she’s going into this presidency. It will not be easy as right now we live in the environment of disinformation, violence, corruption , poverty, human rights injustices under this current administration. Even our sovereignty is being challenged. With Leni I believed that if the Filipino people will trust her in the 2022 election, we will be in the right direction. She was never involved in any scandal and her records are clean . However, she will need the people to support her when she leads the country, as she said in her speech last night “Tumindig kayo; tinitiyak ko, mayroon ding titindig sa tabi ninyo”. This is the start of Leni- she is not just a Brand. Leni is a Movement. Join us in Global Filipinos for Leni, a worldwide group in support of our VP Leni and we have our Canadian group here with my Global Pinoy Diaspora Canada in full support and the Proud Bicolanos from here are uniting for her as well. Sama- sama for Leni. She is ready and Canada is ready for Leni. # Treenee Lopez.
Talks fizzled
Talks with strong contenders for the second top post fizzled out weeks before the filing of COCs and as feared by the opposition bloc, Senator Manny Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno both launched their own presidential campaigns. This was seen as moves to divide the anti-administration votes.
Robredo, a human rights lawyer, made her bid known days after former dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ son, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., launched his own presidential campaign.
Aside from Robredo and Pacquiao, those who have declared their candidacy include former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and former police chief and incumbent Senator Panfilo Lacson.
Except for Robredo, all the other declared presidential candidates have past affiliations with Duterte, leaving her as the nominal opposition candidate.
A relatively novice politician, Robredo first ran for public office after the 2012 death of her husband, who had been the country’s interior minister.
Robredo had only served one term as a member of the House of Representatives and was considered as an unknown before she was tapped for the vice presidential race in 2016.
To date, Marcos is the only known Duterte ally who filed his candidacy to run for president. Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio filed for reelection while Duterte’s closest aide, Sen. Bong Go, announced plan to run for vice president.
Earlier, President Duterte already said he will run for vice president amid the Hague-based tribunal International Criminal Court’s investigation on his “war on drugs” which was dubbed as crimes against humanity.
In contrast, Robredo delivered a message of love for Filipinos and a pledge to end the “reign of terror” of the current administration.
“Ina akong nakikita ang pagdurusa ng minamahal kong bansa. Naniniwala ako: Ang pag-ibig, nasusukat hindi lang sa pagtitiis, kundi sa kahandaang lumaban, kahit gaano kahirap, para matapos na ang pagtitiis. Ang nagmamahal, kailangang ipaglaban ang minamahal,” she said.
She also urged her supporters to continue what they had started and promised to fight with them until the end.
“Ang kinabukasan, pinipili, pinagsisikapan, ipinaglalaban. Kailangan nating piliing humakbang. Heto ako ngayon, humahakbang. Ipaglalaban ko kayo hanggang dulo. Itataya ko ang lahat; ibubuhos ko ang lahat na kayang ibuhos. Sama-sama tayong tumaya sa laban na ito,” she encouraged her supporters.
Opposition
“We in 1SAMBAYAN stand firm behind VP Leni in her presidential bid in the 2022 national elections. It is a light of hope that comes at a time of great uncertainty: a country on its knees due to a failed pandemic response, a struggling economy, and a backdrop of the loss of lives and livelihood for the Filipino people,” 1Sambayan said in an October 7-statement.
“The fight to regain our country’s democracy and integrity in governance starts now,” the group added.
Related reading: Voting registration extended.