Former VP Robredo files candidacy for Naga City mayor

NOTE: A version of this story was published by CoverStory.ph.

NAGA CITY—After visiting her husband’s resting place and attending mass at the Archbishop’s Palace on Saturday, Oct. 5, former Philippine vice president Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo filed her certificate of candidacy for mayor along with her slate.

Despite clamors for her to run for Senate, she said that her passion is community work and that she trusts her skill sets more in an executive position rather than in the legislature.

She said that as mayor, “you are not just the manager of the city, community work is really the anchor of your job.”

“I have been a congresswoman, I am sure that I will be better and more passionate about executive work in the local government,” Robredo told the press outside the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office after her filing.

Aspirations

Members of the Lakas ng Kababaihan ng Naga Federation, founded by Robredo herself more than three decades ago when she was the city’s first lady, were all eagerly waiting for her hours before her arrival.

Teresita Avila, 72 and the group’s coordinator in Cararayan village, said that although the current mayor, Nelson Legacion, is also doing a good job, they hope Robredo will do better.

She said that they are hoping for Robredo to focus on health and sanitation issues if she becomes mayor.

“The present administration is doing everything it can to tackle those issues, but it doesn’t mean that it is already perfect. There is still more to be done,” Avila told RA vs the World.

Robredo said that prior to filing her COC, they have already made their rounds listening to Naga City folks to hear about the issues most important to them.

“The problems are evolving, the issues are evolving,” Robredo said. “When my husband first ran, Naga had nothing then. The battle cry then was economic progress. Over the years, we attained that. So now, we want to ensure that the economic progress here is more inclusive.”

Robredo’s late husband, Jesse Robredo, was mayor in Naga City from 1988 to 1998, and then again from 2001 to 2010. He was with the Department of the Interior and Local Government from 2010 before his plane crashed on the way home from Cebu, killing him in 2012.

Robredo said that they also want to ensure that the environment and social issues are monitored, and that the quality of life in Naga City is not sacrificed.

“Naga is known for people empowerment. Over the years, the lesson is that it does not mean that you have set up a mechanism, you have to be complacent,” she said. “Genuine people empowerment must be [continuous].”

Robredo is referring to Naga City’s Empowerment Ordinance, an EDSA People Power-inspired program started during Jesse’s term that allows common Naga folk to participate in the day-to-day goings on of the government including budgeting and planning.

“We want to show that politics is not bad,” she told the press.

Slate

Robredo and her slate, dubbed “Team Naga,” will be running under the Liberal Party of the Philippines (LP).

During their filing, they were all wearing pink, Robredo’s political color during her 2022 run for president, instead of the LP’s color yellow.

Her vice mayor running mate, outgoing Camarines Sur 3rd district representative Gabriel Bordado, has a long history working with the Robredos.

He once served as Jesse’s speech writer, city administrator, then his secretary, then his public information officer.

This is not the first time Bordado is aiming for the position. For three terms, he became the city vice mayor—first under Mayor Jesse (2003 to 2010) and then under Mayor John Bongat (2010 to 2013).

Robredo said that Bordado initially told her that he did not want to run, but soon after, he was vetted and was convinced by local leaders.

Previously, Bordado was sure about not seeking another government post, saying that his third term as congressman was enough.

“I was telling (Robredo) that I will not run anymore. I said I’ve been in government service for too long,” Bordado told RA vs the World. “But she said that if I pass the process, that means that the people still want me.”

The process Bordado is referring to is the vetting process that the “Team Naga” undergoes in which 2,000 Naga City folks give their anonymous evaluations of the aspiring candidates.

Everyone in the “Team Naga” slate were the ones who emerged as the people’s choice after they were evaluated according to ethical standards, governance, and capacity and experience.

The slate is made up of incumbent councilors Jessie Albeus, Gilda Gayle Abonal Gomez, Melvin Ramon Buenafe, Jose Perez, and Ghiel Rosales; returning councilor Miles Raquid-Arroyo; former city health officer Dr. Butch Borja; outgoing city administrator Elmer Baldemoro; outgoing city budget officer Frank Mendoza; and Atty. Areiz Macaraig.

Critics of the line-up, however, noted that it is still made up of former councilors, some of whom were either accused of accepting “payola” or bribes from jueteng (illegal numbers game in the Philippines) or involved in irregularities in bidding on city projects.

“Without any judgement, we gave the decision to the people,” Robredo said. “On my end, I am sure that even if there are issues for some, it will not be a hindrance to help the city.”

Robredo said that she currently does not have any power to say whether the allegations are true, but she gave her assurance that if she becomes mayor, it will be easy for her to really get into the details of the matter.

Each of the councilors picked for the slate committed to be active participants in the investigation, she said.

Not preparation for 2028

Robredo also shrugged off comments that her mayoral run this midterm election is in preparation for a second attempt at the presidency in 2028.

“I think it will be unfair for the city if I will just use my being a mayor as a jump off point,” she told the press. “I think I will not be an effective mayor if I am thinking of 2028 already because then everything I do is [public relations].”

In 2022, Robredo ran for the presidency against nine others, eventually losing to Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son and namesake of the former dictator, by more than 16 million votes.

Asking for guidance

Robredo said that it was important for her to drop by his late husband’s final resting place in Balatan village in this city because he is his political mentor.

“If I have to make crucial decisions, especially if it is about politics, I always pray that he (Jesse) gives me guidance.”

She also said that the private mass at the Archbishop’s Palace was to ask for blessing from the Lord for “Team Naga.”

“We decided that it would be private,” she said. “It is hard when it is a public event because it becomes a spectacle and that is not the aim of the mass,” she said.