Jesse Robredo's widow running for Congress

MANILA -- Malacañang confirmed Friday that the widow of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, Leni, is running as representative of Camarines Sur's third district.

"The decision of Leni Robredo to run for Congress was a difficult one for her to make but now that she has decided we wish her all the best," Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ramon Carandang said.

"We are confident that if elected she will capably bear the torch of good governance in the name of her late husband Jesse Robredo," he added.

Leni is running under the Liberal Party ticket. She was recently assigned as the chief of the ruling party in the province.

Leni will run against the wife of Camarines Sur Representative Luis Villafuerte Sr. Villafuerte is running for governor of the province after serving three three-year terms in the House of Representatives.

Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya, LP's acting president, said the administration party is honored to nominate Robredo as part of the congressional candidate for the third district of Camarines Sur.

"We can only be appreciative of her desire to continue what Secretary Jesse has done for the province of CamSur. She could have easily opted for the easy path of keeping a quiet life and taking care of her daughters but just like Sec. Jesse she has responded to a higher calling," Abaya said.

"The LP assures her of the party's full support to the call of the people of CamSur for Attorney Lenny to run and be elected as representative of third district of Cam Sur," he further said.

Leni is expected to file her certificate of candidacy today, which is the last day of filing.

Leni also recently submitted an application to the Judicial and Bar Council to become a judge in Quezon City, withdrawing her previous application to become a regional trial court judge in Bicol, the Robredos home province. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)