MANILA – This is not the time for politicking but for working for the people’s welfare, stressed the spokesperson of Vice President Leni Robredo.
Atty. Barry Gutierrez was reacting to the statements of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Robredo’s possible plans for the 2022 elections – either to run for president or governor of Camarines Sur.
“The Vice President is still focused on helping Filipinos amid the (coronavirus) pandemic,” stressed Gutierrez.
On Wednesday, Trillanes volunteered himself to be the standard bearer of the 1Sambayan coalition if, he said, Robredo was leaning towards running for the gubenatorial post in Camarines Sur.
Gutierrez said Robredo was not ruling out running for the presidency even if she previously said she was considering running for a local position.
“There is absolutely no truth to the claim of Trillanes that (Robredo) is making ‘preparations’ to run for governor of Camarines Sur,” Gutierrez said. “She is still open to running for the presidency.”
Trillanes, however, said his declaration was not meant to pressure Robredo to announce her intention but only triggered by a “confluence of events.”
“This is a requirement by the [1Sambayan] coalition because they are about to start the selection process, and I need to change my status from being an alternative to that of being a principal in order for me to be included in that selection process,” Trillanes explained on Thursday.
“As an alternate, you cannot be included because for as long as the principal who is Vice President Leni Robredo is still there, then you cannot be qualified or you cannot be included [in the selection process],” he added.
Aside from Trillanes and Robredo, other personalities being eyed by the coalition were Manila City’s Mayor Francisco Domagoso and senators Grace Poe and Nancy Binay.
Poe and Binay reportedly declined the party invitation./PN
