‘We respect her decision even as we disagree with it.’
This was the statement of Sen. Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan on Tuesday after former vice president and incumbent Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo announced that she will not run for national position in the upcoming 2028 elections
‘We respect her decision even as we disagree with it and believe that the national interest will be best served if at some future time she changes her mind and heeds the growing clamor of the people for her to lead the nation’s fight for genuine service and good governance,’ Pangilinan said in a statement.
‘I believe that Leni is in the best position to build the broadest and strongest unity not just amongst the ranks of the Liberal Party and our allies but to include all other groups and personalities outside our allied forces,’ he added, citing Robredo’s poll numbers.
Pangilinan stressed that with Robredo’s poll numbers on the rise, more ‘political colors,’ civil society and private sector groups would likely rally behind her.
‘A snowballing of support behind her bid is quite possible,’ Pangilinan added.
He also highlighted that Robredo’s poll numbers are much higher going into 2028, compared to that of 2022, adding that should she change her mind, ‘a formidable coalition, far broader er, more inclusive than the one we forged in 2022, can be cobbled together and lead us to victory in 2028.’
At the same time, he warned that Robredo’s abstention from running for a higher position ‘may create a leadership vacuum’ that may not be filled by others and could ‘lead to disunity,’ in the Liberal Party and its allies.
‘The net effect willl be the fielding of various political parties and groups of their respective presidential bets, further weakening our chances and delivering victory to our adversaries,’ he continued.
Despite declining a re-run for the national elections, Robredo declared her plan seek reelection as Naga City mayor.
Following her term as vice president from 2016 to 2022, Robredo made a bid for president in 2022 with Pangilinan as her running mate.
They, however, lost to now President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.
Robredo in 2025 became the first elected female mayor of Naga City, Camarines Sur.