MANILA – An anti-Duterte coalition led by retired Supreme Court associate justice Antonio Carpio eyes to form a unified opposition slate to topple the administration’s bets in the upcoming national elections.
The “1Sambayan,” according to Carpio, aims to field a single opposition slate for the national positions namely: president, vice president and senator.
Among the possible candidates being eyed by the group for president and vice president were Vice President Leni Robredo, Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno, Senators Nancy Binay and Grace Poe, and former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
“We are prepared to accept suggestions and nominations from everyone. So we are not foreclosing the candidates that we will consider and we will go through the process,” Carpio said in a press conference on Thursday.
The coalition will screen possible candidates based on their track record, stand on important issues, policy platform, and competence as well as survey placing.
Aside from Carpio, other 1Sambayan’s convenors and supporters include former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, Armin Luistro, Albert del Rosario, Heidi Mendoza, Neri Colmenares, Magdalo party-list, and some labor groups, among others.
“Many of us are here today precisely because we are unified that the issue of 2022 elections, when another Duterte comes into power, will be substantially affecting our survival as a nation,” said Colmenares.
While the administration has not yet announced its possible bets, many were egging Presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio and senator Christopher “Bong” Go to succeed President Rodrigo Duterte.
Reacting to the launch of the opposition coalition, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that it was ill-timed since the country is under pandemic and the election is still over a year away./PN
