MULTI-SECTORAL groups led by former Negros Occidental Governor Rafael Coscolluela launched their call for Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo to run for president in the coming 2022 national and local elections.
"We are united in urging VP Robredo to take on the challenge and to run for president in the coming 2022 elections," the group said during the launching Thursday, February 25, 2021.
"We believe that Robredo possesses all the qualities and qualifications required of a president who will not only lead competence but will inspire Filipinos in search of hope, enable those in need of empowerment and restore our faith in a government that nurtures and builds and brings back our pride as Filipinos," the group added.
They emphasized that the new president will need to be a healing and unifying president; a stickler for truth, justice and fair play; a charismatic ambassador to the world; a principled politician skilled in the art of negotiation; an empowering, ethical and effective leader; a strategic development manager driven by right vision and values; a goal-driven taskmaster who can whip all government agencies into efficient-service delivery machine; a caring nurturing servant leader; an administrator capable of assembling and leading competent government functionaries who will carry out the administration's program efficiently and well and a good communicator.
Coscolluela said their move is volunteer-based and that they will launch a signature campaign targeting 100,000 signatures, which can be done if they have resources.
It will also have a parallel campaign on Facebook to reach more people even outside the province.
"We think we can get more signatures through Facebook and it will be supported by a webpage for a sense of legitimacy. It will have more important content not only VP Leni for President but will also create a venue for people to send in feedback or concerns or ideas about what the next president will focus on," Coscolluela further said.
Coscolluela also said as of this time, Robredo has not decided yet about her political future and that she is not yet aware of their activity.
"The public will provide extreme pressure. This will pressure her. There is no viable alternative of what we have now so we need a viable alternative to what we have now and she is the only alternative," Coscolluela said.
Robredo, according to Coscolluela, has said she keeps her options open, including running for a local position.
"We are sure that she is also aware of the problems she will face if she becomes president. She has not made up her mind yet and we hope she will hear public clamor and she will give in," the former governor added.
Coscolluela bared that they hope Robredo would make a public statement about her decision at the end of April so that they could start the campaign machinery.
The multi-sectoral group will also support all the candidates who will run under Robredo who is expected to carry the banner of the Liberal Party in the 2022 elections.