Robredo: Isko-Pacquiao Eleksyon 2022 tandem strong for now but numbers can change

Vice President Leni Robredo said on Friday that an Eleksyon 2022 ticket featuring Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Senator Manny Pacquiao is a strong contender for now, but she could not say if this would still be the case next year.

"Kung Isko-Pacquiao, malakas iyon. Malakas iyon kasi kung numbers ngayon iyong pagbabasehan. Pero para kasi sa akin sobrang aga pa," she told reporters at the sidelines of the COVID-19 vaccine express event in her home city of Naga in Bicol.

(An Isko-Pacquiao tandem is a strong ticket based on numbers now, but it is still early to tell.)

"Kahit malapit na iyong filing, sobrang aga pa para magkaroon na ng ganoon. Iyong experience ko noong 2013, iyong experience ko noong 2016, ang dami pang pwedeng magbago," she added.

(The filing of candidacies is fast approaching but it is still too early to tell at this point. Based on my 2013 and 2016 experiences, a lot of things can still change.)

She was referring to her 2013 congressional bid as Camarines Sur representative and vice-presidential run in 2016.

In both instances, Robredo was not the frontrunner in pre-election polls but she won both her bids as an administration candidate.

Based on a recent Pulse Asia poll, Robredo trailed her rivals with only a 6% rating, placing sixth.

Moreno placed second with 14% while Pacquiao placed fifth with 9%.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte led the pre-election survey with 28%.

Robredo earlier said that it would be hard for her to mount a 2022 presidential campaign due to lack of resources, but she also maintained that she was open to running for President in 2022.

Robredo also deferred answering queries if she is willing to run for president with Moreno as running mate, saying she had yet to decide on running and she did not want to preempt Moreno.

"It is hard to tell if I am yet to decide if I will run. Deciding on the tandem will come after I decide if I should run for a national post or not," she said.

"Ewan ko lang kung nagbago na pero iyong balita ko dati, hindi kino-consider ni Mayor Isko mag-VP. Pero sabi naman ni Mayor Isko, wala pa siyang desisyon. Huwag natin siyang pangunahan," she added.

(I don't know if there are changes but I heard before that Mayor Isko is not considering a Vice Presidential run. But Mayor Isko also said he is yet to decide so let us not preempt him.)

Robredo and Moreno earlier collaborated on a COVID-19 vaccine express project, a drive-thru vaccination effort for public utility vehicle drivers. — DVM, GMA News