Leni Robredo Officially Announces Naga City Mayor Bid
LENI ROBREDO – Former Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo just announced her Naga City mayoral run.
Leni Robredo officially announced her candidacy for mayor of Naga City and introduced the “Team Naga” slate under the Liberal Party (LP) for the 2025 elections.
During a press briefing on Friday, Robredo emphasized that her team’s selection process involved extensive consultations with Naga City residents, various sectors, and local organizations. This approach, she explained, was rooted in the tradition established by her late husband, Jesse Robredo, who served as Naga’s mayor for several terms (1988-1998, 2001-2010).
Jesse Robredo was widely respected for his governance before being appointed Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government by then-President Benigno Aquino III in 2010. Jesse tragically passed away in a plane crash in 2012 while returning home to Naga.
Leni Robredo, who was then a practicing lawyer for marginalized communities under the Naga-based alternative legal group, Saligan, was persuaded to enter politics after her husband’s death. She ran for the third district seat of Camarines Sur in 2013, defeating Nelly Favis Villafuerte of the influential Villafuerte family. In 2016, she narrowly won the vice-presidential race, defeating Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who later bested her in the 2022 presidential election.
When asked why she chose to run for mayor instead of seeking a Senate seat, as suggested by LP party members, Leni explained, “I know my strengths, and I excel in executive roles. I genuinely love community work, and my skill set is better suited for the mayor’s office than the Senate.”
Her vice mayoral running mate is outgoing Camarines Sur third district Representative Gabby Bordado, a former vice mayor during Jesse Robredo’s administration. More than 2,000 Naga residents participated in consultations to assess candidates on integrity, experience, and commitment to public service.
According to the report, Leni’s slate includes outgoing city administrator Elmer Baldemoro, former city budget officer Frank Mendoza, former councilor Miles Raquid-Arroyo, lawyer Ariez Macaraig, and incumbent Councilors Gayle Abonal-Gomez, Jess Albeus, Omar Buenafe, Ghiel “Oying” Rosales, and Jose Perez.
She plans to file her certificate of candidacy (COC) on Saturday and will step down from her role as president of the Angat Buhay foundation once she officially joins the mayoral race. Additionally, she will support Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan’s Senate bids for LP.
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