The Comelec is considering several adjustments for the next elections as the pandemic drags on, including prohibiting face-to-face campaigns.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 4) — Senator Kiko Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party, on Thursday said the political party is still considering fielding Vice President Leni Robredo as their presidential candidate in the 2022 elections.
Robredo is the party’s highest-ranking official. Pangilinan, however, said nothing is final yet.
“But she herself has said wala siyang desisyon (she hasn’t made a decision to run). Marami pang puwede mangyari (A lot can happen),” Pangilinan said in a media briefing.
“But in the meantime, let us just focus on how we can help address this pandemic and economic crisis,” he added.
“I understand there are already some groups who are already discussing 2022,” Pangilinan continued. “Okay iyon (That is okay), let them start. Sa atin naman (To us), ultimately, 2022 is all about voters. So tayo sa Liberal Party, tuloy tuloy lang recruitment sa baba (We, in the Liberal Party, our recruitment on the ground is ongoing).”
Earlier this week, supporters of Robredo launched an online petition urging her to run for president in 2022. The campaign in change.org called “I am ready for Leni” has so far gathered support from over 17,000 signatories.
Meanwhile, supporters of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte also initiated their own campaigns to urge her to vie for the presidency. She, however, clarified that she is not interested to run in next year’s presidential poll.
Pangilinan said he will file a resolution for the Senate to look into the readiness of Comelec to hold the 2022 elections.
Pangilinan said the Liberal Party would rather focus for now on the problems hounding the country. He noted Robredo too is focused on helping those who are affected by the pandemic, the rising prices of basic commodities, and natural disasters.
“Hopefully, if we are able to show a good performance, then voters will remember that and will support us,” the senator explained. “Iyon ang ginagawa natin sa ngayon. Tutukan itong COVID response as best as we can. Pagtulungan natin dahil iyan naman ang concern ng ating mga kababayan at itong mga economic issues. Ito muna harapin natin. Political issues can wait.”
[Translation: We are focusing on our COVID response as best as we can. Let’s work on that together because the COVID-19 response and economic issues are the concerns of our fellow Filipinos. Let’s deal with these issues first.]
Register to vote, Filipinos urged
Pangilinan also called on the public to register to be able to vote in the 2022 elections, citing Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon’s statement that so far, only one million Filipinos have registered – far from the expected four million new voters.
“Alam ko mahirap pagka-COVID pero ang ibang bansa naman nagagawa,” he pointed out. “There’s no reason why we can’t do it.”
[Translation: I know it is difficult [to register] because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but other countries have done it.]
