Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo, widow of former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, has answered clamors for her to follow in her late husband's footsteps.
Robredo filed her certificate of candidacy for Camarines Sur third district representative at the local Commission on Elections office, reports on Friday said.
"[K]ami po ng mga anak ko nagulat sa mga pangyayari. Para kaming naitulak sa isang corner na wala kaming choice. Sana divine intervention na yun (My children and I were surprised by this turn of events. It's as if we were caught in a corner and we had no choice. I hope that was divine intervention)," Robredo said in a press briefing broadcast over the radio.
Supporters flocked to their Naga City home Friday morning, most of them tearful as they urged her to seek Rep. Luis Villafuerte Sr.'s seat in Congress, she added.
Villafuerte is serving out his last term and will be running for Camarines Sur governor against his grandson Miguel Villafuerte.
"Parang leap of faith na... Kung hindi naman po nagkaroon ng gulo, talaga naman pong hindi ako kandidato (I consider it a leap of faith... Without the confusion, I really wouldn't be running)," the lawyer said.
Reports earlier floated the possibility that Robredo will be pushed to run under the admistration coalition's Senate slate congressional following the highly publicized death of her husband.
Jesse Robredo died in a plane crash off the island of Masbate Aug. 18, along with two pilots.
When she finally decided to run, Robredo she was shocked that supporters have already prepared her certificate of candidacy.
"Pagdating ko, magta-thumbmark na lang ako (When I arrived, I only had to place my thumbmark)," Robredo said.
Robredo also admitted that she was not able to think her decision through thoroughly.
"Talagang binase ko na lang siya sa faith ng supporters namin (I only based it on our supporters' faith)," she said.
"Sana mas maraming oras po para pag-isipan ito (I hope I had more time to think this through)," she said.
Earlier Friday, the Robredo widow posted via her Twitter account: "Can't believe this is happening."
Her eldest daughter Aika replied: "Me also, pero ganda lang (Me also, but it's great!)
Robredo has earlier agreed to head the Liberal Party in Camarines Sur at the prodding of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and newly appointed Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas.
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