MANILA, Philippines — A “light of hope” for a “country on its knees.”
This was how opposition coalition 1Sambayan described Vice President Leni Robredo’s presidential bid announcement as the group expressed firm support for her candidacy.
“We in 1SAMBAYAN stand firm behind VP Leni in her presidential bid in the 2022 national elections. It is a light of hope that comes at a time of great uncertainty: a country on its knees due to a failed pandemic response, a struggling economy, and a backdrop of the loss of lives and livelihood for the Filipino people,” 1Sambayan said in a statement on Thursday.
“The fight to regain our country’s democracy and integrity in governance starts now,” it added.
But the coalition stressed that the 2022 elections will be an “uphill battle” considering the “vast resources” of administration candidates.
“Make no mistake about it, we are up against the vast resources of the Duterte administration. If we remain divided, we will stand to lose more than just the elections: we will lose our country, our democracy, and integrity in public service,” 1Sambayan said.
Nevertheless, the coalition called on “every peace and democracy-loving Filipino to unite and stand behind” Robredo.
“[K]nowing that we are fighting for the survival of the country fuels our vigilance and our resolve to push for the presidency of VP Leni in next year’s elections,” it said.
“Unity will define this historic exercise of our right to choose the RIGHT leader. Unity will allow us to defeat whoever Duterte anoints as successor. Unity will help us take Leni Robredo to the presidency for the sake of our country and our people,” it added.
On Thursday, Robredo declared she will run for the presidency in next year’s elections.
Before this, 1Sambayan, an election coalition seeking to have a unified opposition slate for the coming polls, had endorsed Robredo as its presidential candidate.
Magdalo support
Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, chairman of the Magdalo group, also lauded Robredo’s decision to run for president.
“Nagbubunyi ang Magdalo sa desisyon ni VP Leni na pamunuan ang TUNAY NA OPOSISYON sa 2022 elections sa pagtakbo bilang Presidente,” he said.
(Magdalo is hailing the decision of VP Leni to lead the true opposition in the 2022 elections as a presidential candidate.)
He assured Robredo of Magdalo’s support in her presidential bid.
“Makakasama niya ang Magdalo para maipanalo ang laban na ‘to, at tuluyang iahon ang ating bansa mula sa pagkasirang ginawa ni [President Rodrigo] Duterte,” Trillanes said.
(She will have Magdalo’s support to help her to victory and to lift the country from what Duterte has done.)