Robredo ‘most qualified’ to be the next president — Drilon

As far as Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon is concerned, Vice President Leni Robredo is the "most qualified" to become the country's next President.

"Right now, there is no question Vice President Leni Robredo, to us, is the most qualified to be the next president. She is our chairman," said Drilon, vice chairman of the Liberal Party (LP), in an ANC interview on Tuesday.

Despite this, Drilon said it is still up to Robredo if she would seek the presidency in the 2022 elections.

"We will support her but the matter of running is a personal decision and up to this point, Vice President Leni Robredo has not decided to cast her hat in the national political race. That is where it is today," he said.

Drilon also clarified that the Liberal Party has not yet made a discussion about supporting Manila Mayor Isko Moreno for the 2022 polls, despite supposedly some reports about it.

"I am the vice chairman of the Liberal Party. I have heard of this. That the Liberal Party has taken an official position, no. We haven’t even met to discuss this. Maybe we should in order to discuss this," he said.

Several anti-administration figures led by former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio earlier formed the “1Sambayan” coalition which aims to come up with a single slate of national candidates to run against President Rodrigo Duterte’s preferred successor and his other bets.

On Friday, LP president Senator Francis Pangilinan said the party has no official stand yet on the coalition, but is "open to informal talks."

He also maintained that politics should not be the priority right now but curbing the spike in COVID-19 infections. — RSJ, GMA News