1Sambayan hopes potential nominees will ‘unite’ for a bet to defeat Duterte’s pick

 Former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, retired
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales and former Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario (in background pictures) lead the new political coalition 1Sambayan. INQUIRER file photo / RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — Opposition coalition 1Sambayan hopes that its potential nominated candidates will “unite” as the broad alliance seeks to defeat whoever the government’s presidential candidate may be.

Lawyer Howard Calleja, who said they have talked to Vice President Leni Robredo, former Senator Antonio Trillanes III, Senator Grace Poe and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, expressed optimism that the said personalities would join forces and “set aside personal interests.”

READ: Only one bet for opposition – Robredo

“I think it is not who is that person, as I said, the convenors are 24 right now, but talking with the personalities mentioned, I think, we are very confident that, what you hope, what we dream of, they will come and unite for the 2022 elections, and for the benefit of the country,” Calleja said over ABS-CBN News Channel when asked if someone from 1Sambayan could unite their potential bets into having one presidential candidate to beat Duterte administration’s candidate.

“I think it is more of a possibility now than a year ago,” he added.

“The people will be surprised, we have the formula, of course, I cannot say it here, but trust the system, trust the process, we will have a formula that the personalities mentioned will unite,” Calleja said.

“I think, in our conversations with them, and I trust our conversations with them, that their personal interests can be set aside towards the bigger interests, which is of the nation and of the people,” he added.

To challenge administration candidates, 1Sambayan, a coalition of pro-democracy parties and sectors, was formed.

READ: Carpio launches coalition to challenge Duterte’s ‘anointed one’ in 2022 polls

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