1Sambayan bares nominees for president, vice president in 2022 polls

MANILA, Philippines — The opposition coalition 1Sambayan on Saturday unveiled its six nominees for president and vice president in the 2022 national elections.

1Sambayan convenor and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the following are the group’s nominees for the upcoming polls:

• Vice President Leni Robredo
• Former Senator Sonny Trillanes
• Senator Grace Poe
• Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) party-list and Rep. Eddie Villanueva
• Human rights lawyer Atty. Chel Diokno
• Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto

In a video shown during 1Sambayan’s event, Robredo stressed the importance of unity since some use the Filipinos’ frustration to divide the country.

“Matagal nang frustrated ang Pilipino. At ginagamit ng iba ang frustration na ito para pagwatak watakin tayo, para idiin ang pagkakaiba natin kaysa sa mga bagay na nagbibigkis sa atin,” Robredo said.

(Filipinos have long been frustrated. And some use this frustration to divide us, to stress our differences instead of the things that bind us.)

“Ibig sabihin, nasa bayanihan ang susi ng anumang tugon. Nakikiisa ako sa panawagang magkaisa. Sabay ng pakiusap, hindi pwedeng tayo tayo lang din ang magkakaisa kung hindi tayo lilikha ng espasyo sa puso natin para sa iba.”

(This means that helping one another is the key to whatever response. I’m one with the calls for unity. Along with this call, it shouldn’t be just us but we should make a space in our hearts for others.)

For Trillanes, the Philippines’ survival will rely on the 2022 national elections.

“Ang 2022 elections ay ang pinakaimportanteng yugto sa kasaysayan ng ating demokrasya simula noong 1986. Dito nakasalalay ang survival ng ating bansa. Kaya napakahalaga na manalo ang pro-democracy forces,” Trillanes said also in a video message played during the event.

(The 2022 elections is the most important part of our democracy’s history since 1986. This is where the country’s survival relies on. That’s why it’s important for pro-democracy forces to win.)

Villanueva, for his part, said there is hope for the country if the people elect a leader who has integrity, experience, among others.

“May malaking pag-asa ang bayang pilipinas kung tayo’y nagkakaisa at itataguyod natin ang pamumunong nakabatay sa integridad at moralidad, kakayanan at karanasan, wasto at may prinsipyong mamumuuno sa ating inang bayan,” he said.

(The people of the Philippines have great hopes if we unite and promote leadership based on integrity and morality, ability and experience, correct and principled to lead our people.)

Poe, on the one hand, was quick to declare she has no plans to run for the presidency. She once gunned for the highest post in 2016 but lost to Duterte. In 2019, she was re-elected as a senator.

Of the nominees, only Trillanes has expressed intent to run for president noting he would step aside should Robredo decide to seek the highest post in the country.

Robredo, meanwhile, said she is open to be a candidate for the presidency though she has yet to decide whether to seek the gubernatorial post in Camarines Sur.

Villanueva ran for president in 2004 and 2010 but lost to both bids while Santos-Recto has yet to run for a post higher than the House of Representatives. Diokno, on the one hand, lost his senatorial bid in 2019.

1Sambayan eyes to form a single slate of national candidates that will challenge candidates to be fielded by the Duterte administration in the 2022 national elections.

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

The convenors said they are looking for the following criteria in choosing their nominees: a clean track record, upright stand on key issues, platforms, and winnability.

/MUF