NAGA CITY – Former Vice President Maria Leonor Gerona “Leni” Robredo has filed his certificate of candidacy for mayor of Naga City in the May 2025 elections under the Liberal Party.

Robredo’s late husband Jessie Robredo served as mayor of Naga before he was appointed as Interior and Local Government secretary by then president Benigno S. Aquino III . 

Robredo, at the same time, announced he has no plans to run for president again in the 2028 elections.

“Tingin ko magiging unfair para sa city if gagamitin ko lang pagiging mayor bilang jumpoff point. Hindi ako magiging effective mayor kung ang iniisip ko lang ay yung 2028,” she said.

Robredo said she decided to run for a local position last June, despite clamors for her to run for a Senate seat.

“Nasubukan ko na mag-legislative, nasubukan ko na mag-executive. Una, mas mahusay ako sa executive position, pangalawa, talagang passion ko yung community work, at eto ang buod ng pagiging mayor,” Robredo said.

(I already have experience in legislative work, and also in executive work. I am better in executive positions, and second, I’m really passionate about community work. This is the core of being a Mayor.)

“Sa Senado, iba ang skillset na kailangan. Sigurado ako kasi naging Congresswoman na rin ako, mas passionate ako sa executive work sa local government,” she added.

(The Senate requires a different skill set, I’m sure because I have been a Congresswoman. I know I’m more passionate about executive work in local government.)

Long-time ally Gabriel Bordado will be her running mate, and her slate of councilors have been selected through a rigid screening process that looked at character and integrity.

Robredo filed her CoC together with her “Team Naga” slate for the city council.

“It’s been a tradition here in Naga City that before a team Naga was created, they must undergo a process. For this year, we identified categories for those to be chosen, and the second is even the incumbent must submit themselves during the process,” Robredo said.

She said she earlier invited Naga City residents and members of various sectors and organizations to take part in an extensive consultation process, where they were asked to field nominees and screen aspirants. 

Robredo said all aspiring candidates were vetted based on criteria that included integrity, character, experience, and contribution to people’s empowerment. 

The city councilors line-up included incumbent Councilor Gayle Abonal-Gomez: incumbent Councilor Jess Albeus; outgoing city administrator Elmer Baldemoro; former city health officer Dr. Butch Borja; incumbent councilor Omar Buenafe; outgoing city budget officer Frank Mendoza; incumbent councilor Jose Perez; former councilor Miles Raquid-Arroyo; incumbent councilor Oying Rosales; and lawyer Ariez Macaraig.

Robredo said some of her priority plans and programs are to make Naga a center for good local governance, sustainable urban and inclusive social development, and care for the environment.

“There are many problems now with water, traffic, and electricity; we are going to make sure that even if the area develops, the quality of life will not be sacrificed,” she said in Filipino.

Robredo said she wants the economic progress in the city to be translated into a better life for its people.