Padilla prods PAO chief Acosta: Run for senator

Sen. Robinhood Padilla with PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

SEN. Robinhood Padilla has offered to be the campaign manager of Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Rueda-Acosta to convince her to run for senator in the 2025 midterm elections.

Last week, Padilla went to the PAO’s central office in Quezon City and talked with Rueda-Acosta, who remained silent despite calls for her to join the Senate race.

“PAO chief Persida Acosta is the kind of outstanding public servant who is highly qualified to be a member of the Senate, and I am a witness to her competence and dedication in serving the Filipino people, especially millions of indigents,” Padilla said.

Rueda-Acosta said she was gratified by the support shown by Padilla but said politics is far from her mind for now.

“I truly enjoy my job at PAO, especially when I see an increasing number of Filipinos who trust PAO to help them seek justice,” Rueda-Acosta said.

“Let us see where my destiny will bring me, but for now, I must focus on my job as the chief public attorney. We still have more to do, especially for our indigent countrymen,” she added.

Rueda-Acosta, who earlier marked 23 years as PAO head, has received multiple awards from civic and nongovernment organizations that have recognized her for helping millions of disadvantaged and indigent Filipinos seek justice.

A December 2023 Social Weather Stations survey showed Rueda-Acosta was one of the top picks for the Senate race in the 2025 midterm elections.

Rueda-Acosta said she welcomed the poll results but said she would continue serving the people as PAO chief. ARLIE O. CALALO