Controversy surrounding Leni's endorsements: support for Pacquiao and Abalos, no backing for CamSur candidates

Leni Robredo's Endorsements and the 2025 Elections in Camarines Sur

Former Vice President Leni Robredo has made some strategic moves in the 2025 elections, endorsing Manny Pacquiao and Benhur Abalos, both candidates under the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas ticket. Robredo, who is running for mayor of Naga City, has also expressed gratitude towards Pacquiao for his long-term help to Naga City.

However, Robredo's endorsement of Pacquiao and Abalos may not be the only significant political decision she has made. Some speculate that Robredo is telling her supporters to help Pacquiao and Abalos in order to ease out Imee Marcos, Camille Villar, or Philip Salvador, who are allies of former President Duterte.

In Camarines Sur, Robredo has challenged the Villafuerte dynasty in the past and endorsed the late Nonoy Andaya for governor against LRay's son, Luigi Villafuerte, in the 2022 elections. However, Robredo has not endorsed any candidates for the CamSur 3rd District representative position, including the incumbent Naga City mayor, Nelson Legacion, who is currently running for the position.

Legacion has been haunted by jueteng allegations in 2024 after Leni's letter to the Naga council, calling out Legacion, circulated online. Some residents of Naga City are disappointed that Robredo has not endorsed local candidates from her home province.

Robredo's former regional campaign manager, Bong Rodriguez, is running for the gubernatorial position in Camarines Sur. Although Robredo has not officially endorsed him, Rodriguez was publicly endorsed by Robredo before the 2025 elections.

Champagne Carpio, a political science professor from Ateneo de Naga University, expects Leni Robredo to not endorse any of the provincial candidates in CamSur due to familial ties and potential consequences. In the Philippines, elections often become a battle of the wealthiest, making it difficult for neophyte candidates to win.

Despite these challenges, Robredo has also endorsed Bam Aquino, Kiko Pangilinan, Leila de Lima, and Roberto Ballon for national positions. As the elections approach, the political landscape in Camarines Sur continues to change, with Robredo's endorsements playing a significant role in shaping the future of the province.

Pacquiao and Abalos visited Naga City on April 23, 2025, and it remains to be seen how their campaign will unfold in the coming months. Gerry Cacanindin, a Leni supporter, speculates that Robredo's endorsement of Pacquiao and Abalos is a strategic decision to benefit her in the future. However, Robredo's previous stance towards the Villafuertes does not necessarily mean the same for her current stance, as elections can destroy or rebuild familial ties.

Robredo's decisions in the 2025 elections will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the political landscape of Camarines Sur and the Philippines as a whole. As the campaign season heats up, it will be interesting to see how Robredo's endorsements will shape the outcomes of the elections in the coming months.