Camille Naredo

Former Vice President and Angat Buhay founder Leni Robredo during the Angat Bayanihan 1st year anniversary celebration at the SMX Aura Convention Hall in Taguig on July 1, 2023. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Former Vice President and Angat Buhay founder Leni Robredo during the Angat Bayanihan 1st year anniversary celebration at the SMX Aura Convention Hall in Taguig on July 1, 2023. Angat Bayanihan, the volunteer network of Angat Buhay, implements programs run by volunteers in efforts to aid poor and marginalized sectors. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

LENI ROBREDO

Jonathan Magistrado

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177683666293920230701-angat-bayanihan-anniv-MT-9.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Former Vice President and Angat Buhay founder Leni Robredo during the Angat Bayanihan 1st year anniversary celebration at the SMX Aura Convention Hall in Taguig on July 1, 2023. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/>Former Vice President and Angat Buhay founder Leni Robredo during the Angat Bayanihan 1st year anniversary celebration at the SMX Aura Convention Hall in Taguig on July 1, 2023. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</div>NAGA CITY -- A day after stating that she has closed the door on returning to national politics, former Vice President and current Naga Mayor Leni Robredo urged the public to end the &quot;savior&quot; mentality that often clouds elections.Robredo emphasized that the search for a single &quot;savior&quot; hinders institutional growth.&quot;Mayo man nin monopoly sa kakayahan,&quot; she noted, arguing that the country must stop relying on individual personalities and instead look toward a new generation of leaders.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/21/leni-robredo-says-she-won-t-seek-national-post-in-2028-1207">READ: Leni Robredo says she won&#x27;t seek national post in 2028, eyes 2nd term in Naga</a></div>In a recent interview with Asintado News, she identified Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte as capable leaders, shifting focus away from herself.&quot;Sa grupo mi, si Risa [Hontiveros], pirang beses nang nagsabi na okay siya. Si Bam [Aquino] saka si Kiko [Pangilinan], puwede man &#x27;yan, although pareho nagsabi na habo ninda. Sa hiling ko, si Vico [Sotto] would be a good president. Ano lang talaga ang edad. An saro pang nahihiling kong matibay na mayor na would make a good president si Joy Belmonte. Kadakol pwede,&quot; Robredo said.(Sa grupo namin, si Risa, ilang beses na nagsabi na okay siya. Si Bam saka si Kiko, puwede naman, although nagsabi na sila na ayaw nila. Sa tingin ko, si Vico would make a good president; ang isyu lang talaga ay edad. Ang isa pang nakikita ko na mayor na would make a good president si Joy Belmonte. Maraming puwede.)Robredo assured supporters that while her focus is on Naga, she will actively campaign for their standard-bearer during the next national elections.Reflecting on her own political journey, Robredo shared her preference for hands-on, local governance over the complexities of national politics.&quot;Kadakol akong dae aram pero mahigos ako. Pwede sa local pero sa national kaya kadakol ang dae ko talaga kayang gibuhon… Maluya akong mag-navigate kang politika. Kaya sa hiling ko, mas bagay ako sa local,&quot; she admitted.(Marami akong hindi alam, pero masipag ako. Puwede sa local, pero sa national, marami talaga akong hindi kayang gawin. Mahina talaga akong makipag-navigate sa politika. Kaya sa tingin ko, mas bagay ako sa local.)Robredo also said she doesn&#x27;t feel any political pressure now as a local chief executive.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/22/leni-robredo-out-of-2028-race-marami-pang-pwedeng-mangyari-chel-0754">READ: Leni Robredo out of 2028 race? &#x27;Marami pang pwedeng mangyari&#x27; - Chel</a></div>&quot;Mayo na akong pressure. Iba kaya ngonian, iba kan 2022 dahil VP ako. So ngonian, mahihiling man sa mga ginigibo, bihiraon akong mag-Manila. Gabos na imbitasyon sakuya dae ko na inaako pag mayong koneksyon sa Naga,&quot; she added.(Wala na akong pressure. Iba kasi ngayon, iba noong 2022. Iba ang pressure dahil VP ako. So ngayon, makikita naman sa mga ginagawa, bihira akong pumunta sa Manila. Lahat ng invitation sa akin, hindi ko na tinatanggap kung walang koneksyon sa Naga.)Firm in her decision to remain in Naga, she concluded: &quot;Haluyon na akong nakadesisyon. Kamo man sana an dae nag-aako kan desisyon ko… digdi na ako ma-retire.&quot;(Matagal na akong nagdesisyon. Kayo lang naman ang may ayaw sa desisyon ko… Dito na ako magre-retire.)Robredo said in a radio interview on Tuesday that she will not run for a national post in the 2028 elections, citing her goals for Naga City and her belief that one term is too short to accomplish them all.&quot;Ako most probably, magsi-seek pa ako ng second term [as Naga City mayor],&quot; Robredo said on 91.1 DWNX FM.

A day after stating that she has closed the door on returning to national politics, former Vice President and current Naga Mayor Leni Robredo urged the public to end the "savior" mentality that often clouds elections.

A day after stating that she has closed the door on returning to national politics, former Vice President and current Naga Mayor Leni Robredo urged the public to end the "savior" mentality that often clouds elections.

Leni Robredo urges public to end 'savior' politics; names potential leaders

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Leni Robredo urges public to end 'savior' politics; names potential leaders

Jonathan Magistrado,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 22, 2026 01:46 PM PHT

Read More:

politics

2028 elections

Leni Robredo

Vico Sotto

Joy Belmonte

politics

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