Robredo on 2022 presidential bid: Lahat naman posible

Vice President Leni Robredo is not ruling out a presidential bid in 2022, but said she is not spending her time preparing for it these days.

Robredo, in an interview after her engagements in her hometown Naga City, said that it is too early to focus on a presidential run because a lot can still happen.  She also said there are more urgent needs of the people that should be addressed.

“Lahat naman posible dahil iyon nga, iyong history pinakita na ako, hindi ko naman pinlano kahit ano," she said.

"Tingin ko kasi iyong presidency, ano iyon, destiny. Kahit anong paghahanda mo, kung hindi iyon para sa iyo, hindi talaga para sa iyo. Kaya tingin ko talaga, hindi tama na maghanda ka na ngayon," she added.

Robredo said programs and projects done with political ambition in mind will not yield good results.

"Halimbawa sa akin, mayroon kaming anti-poverty program sa Office of the Vice President. Kapag pagkandidato ng 2022 ang aking iniisip, iyong lahat na gagawin ko, pulitika na at masisira iyong programa namin,” she said.

“So dapat iyong iniisip iyong ngayon, papaano makakatulong, papaano pagbubutihin. Kung after three years na bumuti iyong sitwasyon, bakit hindi? Pero ngayon, useless talaga na paghandaan iyon,” she added.

The next presidential elections is set on May 2022.

“Marahil iyong mga frontrunners ngayon, later on hindi naman sila iyong mga kakandidato. So ang para talaga sa akin, paghandaan iyong present kasi maraming mga issues na dumadaan na hindi nakakareact na maayos dahil hindi handa," Robredo said.

The Vice President said public officials are faced with issues that need to be addressed, such as the situation in the West Philippine Sea.

"Gaya na lang nitong mga problema sa teritoryo natin, iyong mga problema sa mga mangingisda. Maraming mga bagay na kailangang ayusin ngayon,” Robredo said, referring to the 22 Filipino crew members of fishing boat Gem-Vir 1 that was hit by a Chinese vessel at Recto Bank, which is within Manila's exclusive economic zone.

Robredo's allies who ran for senator in the May 2019 elections all failed to win.

At the Senate, there are only four opposition senators who will be members of the 18th Congress —Francis Pangilinan, Franklin Drilon, Risa Hontiveros and Leila de Lima.

De Lima is currently detained on alleged drug charges. —LDF, GMA News