MANILA, Philippines – A final “yes” has yet to be said and nominations have yet to be made but as far as Senate President Franklin Drilon is concerned, Camarines Sur Representative Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo is the ruling Liberal Party (LP)’s vice presidential candidate.

“Malamang. Sabihin na lang natin na si Congresswoman Leni na ang kandidato natin sa pagkabise-presidente (Most likely. Let’s just say that Congresswoman Leni is our candidate for vice president),” Drilon, who is also vice chairman of the LP, said in an interview on Umagang Kay Ganda on Wednesday, September 30.

The past few weeks, the LP, led by its chairman President Benigno Aquino III and standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II, have been trying to convince Robredo to take the offer of running for the country’s second-highest elective post. (READ: Aquino, Roxas meet Robredo family)

On Wednesday, September 30, the LP convened its National Directorate and National Executive Council (NECO), part of the party’s process of formally nominating bets for its 2016 slate. But the LP is not expected to announce its vice presidential bet and Senate slate just yet.

The formal announcement is set on Monday, October 5.  (READ: Back to Club Filipino: For LP, it’s Leni Robredo for VP)

Robredo was offered the slot the same week Senator Grace Poe, whom the LP had first offered the VP slot to, announced her own presidential campaign. The Camarines Sur Representative, the widow of former interior secretary Jesse Robredo, however, has been apprehensive about accepting the post.

In previous interviews, Robredo said that while it wasn’t easy to say “no” to the LP’s offer, it was just as difficult to say “yes.” Her 3 daughters are against her vice presidential run.

Robredo said the September 30 NECO convention was too soon for her to make a final decision. Sources close to the LP told Rappler this was among the many reasons why the party decided to hold off the announcement of its complete slate for the 2016 national elections. – Rappler.com