VP Robredo to seek presidency in Eleksyon 2022

Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday finally announced she is running for president in the 2022 elections, ending months of anticipation.

"Lalaban ako, lalaban tayo. Inihahain ko ang aking sarili bilang kandidato sa pagka-pangulo sa halalan ng 2022 [I will fight, we will fight. I am offering myself as a candidate for president in next year's elections]," she said in a speech. 

Facing her supporters, Robredo vowed to end the country's "old and rotten" political system. "Tatalunin natin ang luma at bulok na pulitika," she said.

Robredo filed her certificate of candidacy later in the day.

Prior to her announcement of her candidacy, Robredo was endorsed by opposition coalition 1Sambayan, Akbayan party-list, and various other groups as their presidential candidate.

"Buong-buo ang loob ko ngayon. Kailangan natin palayain ang ating sarili mula sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon [I wholeheartedly accept this challenge. We need to free ourselves from the current situation]," Robredo said in her speech. 

Robredo also criticized the current administration in her speech, saying lack of leadership is causing many of the country's problems.

"Kung gusto nating tunay na makalaya sa ganitong situwasyon, hindi lang apelyido ng mga nasa poder ang dapat palitan; 'yung korupsyon, 'yung incompetence, 'yung kawalan ng malasakit, kailangang palitan ng matino at mahusay na pamumuno," she said.

(If we want to free ourselves from suffering, we need not only to change the surname of who is in power but to get rid of incompetence and cruelty. We need competent and good governance.) 

Meanwhile, two reliable sources told GMA News Online that Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, Robredo's party-mate in Liberal Party, will be her running-mate.

Before she was elected vice president in 2016, Robredo served as Camarines Sur representative.

The 2022 elections will mark the first time that Robredo, widow of the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, will be an opposition candidate.

The filing of candidacy started last October 1 and will end on October 8.  —KBK, GMA News