Pangilinan, De Lima still hopeful Robedo will seek presidency anew in 2028

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Allies of former Vice President Leni Robredo remain hopeful that she will change her mind about a second presidential run in 2028.

On Monday, House Senior Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima of ML party-list and and Senator Francis Pangilinan made the comments after Robredo said earlier in the day that she won’t pursue a 2028 presidential bid but would rather support a deserving presidential candidate.

“I find it very regrettable to hear that it is as if she has made up her mind. But you know, hope runs eternal. We continue to hope….we continue to hope na baka naman may [that there is still a] chance pa na magbago ang isip niya [that she will change her mind],” De Lima told reporters.

“Whatever her final decision we're going to respect that. But we're still keeping our fingers crossed. We're still hoping that she will change her mind. We in the LP are yet to talk about this but I am sure that we share the same sentiments [of wanting her to run]. Umaasa talaga akong magbabago ang kanyang desisyon [I am really hoping she will change her decision]. She is the best hope for our country,” De Lima added.

De Lima said that with the filing of candidacy set around last week of September to first week of October next year, Robredo can still reopen that door to a second presidential run and make a decision by first quarter of January 2028.

“Ayaw ko maniwala na talagang tuldok na tuldok na iyong pagkakasara [ng pinto]…ng kanyang desisyon. Personally, ayaw kong tanggapin pa yan at this point. Because I do believe na kailangan talaga siya ng bansa,” she said.

[I don't want to believe that she has closed the door. Personally, I don't want to believe that at this point. I do believe our country needs her.]

“With all of the problems, with all of the issues, with all of the challenges in our country and our political climate is facing right now…ang kailangan natin na somebody like VP Leni. She has proven competence and integrity to implement good governance,” she added.

Robredo ran for president in 2022 but lost against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Robredo got 14 million votes as against Marcos' 31 million.

Senator Pangilinan, for his part, harked back to 26 years when then-Senator Benigno Aquino III also had no plans to run for president but later on went on to be the standard bearer of the opposition for the 2010 polls.

Aquino eventually won the 2010 presidential polls.

“Si dating Pangulong Noynoy nung senador pa sya ay wala ring planong tumakbong presidente. Tinutulan din nya yung unang panawagan ng taumbayn na tumakbo siya sa 2010 pero sa huling banda hindi na siya maka hindi dahil taumbayan na ang nagpasiya at nagsabi na dapat siya tumakbo,” Pangilinan said.

(President Noynoy also had no plans to run for President and turned down offers for him to run. But ultimately, he cannot refuse the call of the people who wanted him to be president.)

“Sa 2028, naniniwala ako na taumbayan din ang magpapasiya at magtatagumpay para sa bayan,” he added.

(For 2028, I am also of the belief that the people’s will is the ultimate decider.) — RSJ, GMA News