Leni Robredo files COC for president as independent

(From Comelec)
(From Comelec)

(UPDATED) A few hours after making her announcement, Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) for president in the May 2022 elections.

Robredo filed as an independent candidate on Thursday, October 7, 2021, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

Why she didn't file as standard bearer of the Liberal Party (LP), which she chairs, was not explained.

Her campaign manager would be former senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV, who announced that he was dropping plans to make a comeback in the Senate.

In a social media post shortly after Robredo filed her COC, Aquino said he will focus on the campaign for Robredo.

"Bagkus mayroon nang paghahanda patungo sa ating pagkandidato bilang senador muli, minarapat ko na isantabi ito para sa mas mahalagang laban para sa ating bayan," Aquino said.

"Ibubuhos po natin ang ating buong lakas, bitbit ang suporta at pagmamahal ng ating mga kababayan, upang ipanalo si VP Leni bilang Pangulo nga ating minamahal na bansa," he added.

Robredo has been endorsed by the LP and 1Sambayan, a broad coalition spearheaded by retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio, retired ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario.

The LP executive council, in a resolution passed on September 28, 2021, vowed full support for Robredo while "respecting her preference on the elective position she may decide to run for, if any."

The same resolution gave Robredo the authority to come up with agreements for a united national slate for president, vice president and senators.

Opposition coalition 1Sambayan, which has also endorsed Robredo as their presidential candidate, reiterated its support for the vice president.

"It is a light of hope that comes at a time of great uncertainty (as indicated by): a country on its knees due to a failed pandemic response, a struggling economy, and a backdrop of the loss of lives and livelihood for the Filipino people," the coalition said in a statement, after Robredo announced her bid for the presidency.

The coalition said Robredo faces an uphill battle.

"Make no mistake about it; we are up against the vast resources of the Duterte administration. If we remain divided, we will stand to lose more than just the elections; we will lose our country, our democracy and integrity in public service," the group said.

They called on "every peace and democracy-loving Filipino to unite and stand behind Leni Robredo."

Robredo arrived at the Sofitel Harbor Garden Tent in Pasay City at around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, October 7, 2021. She was accompanied by daughters Aika and Tricia.

Robredo's supporters gathered outside Sofitel. Most of them wore pink, Robredo's color theme, while flashing the Laban sign, a hand gesture popularized by the late former President Corazon Aquino along with the color yellow.

Robredo will be up against Senator Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao, Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko" Domagoso, Senator Panfilo Lacson, former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and more than 40 others who have filed their COC for president.

Marcos, son of the late ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos, was defeated by Robredo in the 2016 vice presidential race.

The 2022 elections are set for May 9, 2022. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)

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