Opposition group says unity talks to continue
BY ASHZEL HACHERO and WENDELL VIGILIA
THE 1Sambayan coalition, which has been working on uniting groups opposed to President Duterte, yesterday endorsed Vice President Leni Robredo as its presidential candidate for the 2022 general elections.
Robredo has not decided if she will seek the presidency next year, and has been saying she will continue her efforts to unite the opposition. The Liberal Party which she chairs on Wednesday said she is open to running for vice president again, if that is what it will take for anti-administration groups to come up with a common presidential candidate.
Yesterday, Robredo thanked 1Sambayan for its trust and confidence and asked the public to pray to help her decide if she will seek the presidency or not.
She said the presidency comes with a great deal of responsibility “and so the decision to run cannot be based on ambition and the call of some.”
She said this is why her decision “has to come from within, brought about by all considerations and a deep analysis of the situation.”
“Sa mga susunod na araw, samahan ninyo akong magdasal pa, (In the next few days, join me in praying more), that our decision will be what is best for our country,” Robredo said.
1Sambayan made the announcement in a virtual media conference held on the eve of the start of filing of certificates of candidacy for the May 2022 elections, and after months of conducting a selection process which saw its convenors eventually choosing between Robredo and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domingo.
“The 1Sambayan is pleased to announce to the nation that it has reached a decision to endorse Vice President Leni Robredo as its presidential candidate for the May 2022 elections. We, therefore, ask VP Leni to accept our endorsement to lead the Filipino people in this difficult time in our history,” said retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, one of the group’s convenors.
“We believe VP Leni best embodies the ideals we all want in a leader for our country and the best person to lead an opposition unity ticket in next year’s presidential elections. We call on those who love and care for our country to throw support behind the Vice President and let us work to win in 2022,” he added.
Carpio said the coalition followed a rigorous process before it finally reached the decision to endorse Robredo, including consultations with its members and partner organizations.
Among the criteria they set for a standard bearer, he said, are “integrity, competence, track record, patriotism, vision for the country and winnability, adding Robredo met these criteria.
Carpio said if Robredo decides against running for president, the coalition will meet again to decide on their next move.
“It’s a remote possibility though because she said she is willing to save the country from plunder and dictatorship,” he added.
As to 1Sambayan’s vice presidential bet, Carpio said they will leave the decision to their presidential candidate.
He also said the group will meet Robredo once she returns from Bicol, considering the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) is on October 8.
Aside from Moreno, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Emmanuel Pacquiao have declared their intention to seek the presidency next year.
Moreno’s camp said he and his running mate Willie Ong will file their COCs on October 4, while Lacson his running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III have chosen October 6.
Carpio and another coalition convenor, lawyer Howard Calleja, dismissed the dismal showing of Robredo in surveys, the latest of which was that of Pulse Asia showing only 8 percent of Filipinos chose her for president, virtually unchanged from the 6 percent rating in a survey conducted by Pulse in June.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio topped the Pulse Asia survey with 20 percent voter preference rating, although it was a decline from the 28 percent rating she got in June.
“Historically, those who were ahead at this time of the year in surveys lost the elections.
The surveys at this time do not reflect what will happen in the election, as it is too early to rely on surveys right now,” Carpio said, adding that a better gauge of winnability will be surveys starting in February 2022.
Duterte-Carpio’s camp said the results of the latest Pulse Asia survey reflect “reflects the people’s desire for stable leadership in this uncertain times.”
Duterte-Carpio earlier this month said she is not running for president as her father, President Duterte, is running for a national position, the vice presidency.
UNITY TALKS TO CONTINUE
Carpio and Calleja said the group will continue unity talks with other candidates.
“Despite the announcement, we are pushing and hopeful for a united ticket. All unity talks are still open and her choice is something that we did among the members. But communication lines are still open and unity talks are still possible,” Calleja said.
Carpio said the unity talks will go on until the last minute, meaning until October 8, or even up to November 15, the last day set by the Commission on Elections for the substitution of candidates.
As to former senator Antonio Trillanes IV who has also undergone the coalition’s selection process, Carpio said he emerged as the top choice for vice president in the group’s internal voting process.
In a statement, Trillanes said he and the Magdalo group are hoping that with the 1Sambayan’s endorsement, Robredo would be encouraged to finally decide to run for president.
“We in the Magdalo group have been consistent in urging her to run as we believe in her capacity to save the country from the mess Duterte has put us into. If she decides to run, the Magdalo group would fully support her to ensure her win,” Trillanes said.
Trillanes earlier said if Robredo would not run, he would run as the opposition’s standard bearer.
