Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo announced her official bid for the presidential seat in the upcoming 2022 elections today, October 7, a day before the last day of filing certificates of candidacy (COC).
“Lalaban ako. Lalaban tayo. Inihahain ko ang aking sarili bilang kandidato sa pagkapangulo sa Halalan 2022,” said Robredo during a love broadcast from her home office in Quezon City.
The Vice President, and considerably the country’s most powerful opposition figure, said she did not have plans to run for the highest position in the country, and preferred returning to her province where people continued to rely on her support.
She admitted that there were countless candidates who asked her permission to join the Liberal Party which she leads. But she replied, ‘Hindi ito tungkol sa posisyon. Hindi tayo nakikipag-usap para magtransaksyon.’ Ang pinakamahalaga, magkaisa kami sa prinsipyo sa pangarap para sa bansa at sa landas na dapat tahakin tungo sa katuparan ng mga ito. Nilinaw ko rin, buhay at kinabukasan ng Pilipino ang pinag-uusapan natin ngayon.”
Robredo called out the rampant corruption in government all throughout the pandemic. She stressed that their greed, incompetence, and selfishness have caused havoc in the lives of people in poverty-stricken areas and consequently affected the country’s growth.
“Ang kawalan ng maayos na pamamahala ang ugat ng ating maraming problema at ito ang kailangang wakasan,” she stated.
Robredo also expressed her appreciation to her supporters who have long been actively encouraging her to run for the highest post in the land. “Ramdam na ramdam ko ang tiwalang kaloob ninyo sa akin. Sinasabi ko ngayon: Buong-buo rin ang tiwala ko sa inyo. Tinatawag ko kayo: Gisingin ang natutulog pang lakas.”
The Vice President committed to bring significant changes. “Gagawin natin itong paninindigan, gagawin natin itong enerhiya. Tatalunin natin ang luma at bulok na klase ng pulitika. Ibabalik natin sa kamay ng karaniwang Pilipino ang kakayahang magdala ng pagbabago.”
“Anim na taon ang nakaraan, tinanggap ko ang hamon na tumakbo sa pagka-Bise Presidente. Ngayon, sasabak tayo sa mas malaking laban.”
Photo Credit: Facebook/VPLeniRobredoPH
