Robredo rules out unity talks with fellow presidential aspirants

Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday said she will no longer pursue unity talks with her fellow 2022 presidential aspirants, as her focus now is on "people's support."

Robredo made the pronouncement a day after she filed her certificate of candidacy for president in the 2022 national and local elections as an independent candidate.

"Our lines remain open but the focus now is not uniting principals but the people's support. Kahapon, na-realize namin na nagkakaisa naman pala ang taumbayan [We realized that there is a united support for us]," Robredo said at a press briefing.

“I was really exerting a lot of effort pero may hangggan kasi siya [it has to end somewhere]. We cannot unite for unity’s sake. We should have shared aspirations, agree on basic, important points and how are we going to steer the country towards meaningful change we aspire for," she added.

Prior to the filing of COCs, Robredo had met with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Senator Manny Pacquiao separately to discuss about a united opposition ticket.

However, nothing came out of the discussion and no other meetings followed.

Pacquiao and Moreno are also running for president in 2022.

Robredo, however, is not convinced that her presidential run will split opposition votes with Moreno.

"I don't believe that is the case because our views are not aligned when it comes to basic principles. Mahirap ipilit ang unity kung na basic na prinsipyo di kayo nagkakaisa (It is hard to be united in such a  situation)," she said.

Robredo maintained that they are the "genuine opposition."

"We are the ones who are critical of government policies from the get go," she said. —KBK, GMA News