VICE President Leni Robredo has not given up on her goal to unite the opposition for next year’s general elections, even after three officials have declared their intention to seek the presidency.
With a few days left before the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) starts, Robredo yesterday said she will continue trying to forge an alliance with other candidates and groups in order to form the broadest coalition against the administration.The COC filing period is October 1 to 8.
Robredo has yet to decide if she will run for president in the May 2022 polls. Those who have publicly declared their intention to seek the presidency are Senators Panfilo Lacson and Emmanuel Pacquiao, and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.
“Tinitignan natin kung may pag-asa pa magsama-sama. Siguro may ibang ‘di na natin maaaya pero hanggang may communication lines na bukas, patuloy ko pa rin ipu-pursue (I’m trying to see if there’s still a chance for unity. Maybe there are others that we can’t convince but as long as the communications lines are open, I’ll continue pursuing it),” she said in her weekly radio program.
Robredo has said she would support a Moreno-Pacquiao tandem in the 2022 national elections if it would be enough to put an end to President Duterte’s brand of governance.
But Pacquiao has accepted his nomination as presidential candidate by a faction of the ruling PDP-Laban party. Moreno has declared he is running under the Aksyon Demokratiko party with internet personality Willie Ong.
Robredo, chairman of the opposition Liberal Party, she and Pacquiao share the belief that only one opposition candidate should run so as to defeat the administration’s candidate, be it presidential daughter Davao City Sara Duterte-Carpio, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go or former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Duterte-Carpio has declared she is seeking re-election. Go has declined his nomination as presidential candidate, by the other PDP-Laban faction, led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi. Marcos has not made any declaration.
Unlike Robredo who has been with the opposition right from the start, Pacquiao and Moreno, who are old allies of Duterte, started criticizing the administration a year only before the 2022 national elections.
Robredo said the fewer the presidential candidates, the better the opposition’s chances of defeating the Duterte administration.
Duterte has accepted the Cusi faction’s nomination for him to be vice presidential candidate. The other faction, led by Pacquiao and Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, has allowed Pacquiao to choose his running mate.
“Sa akin, the more na magkaisa kami o the more na mabawasan ‘yung tatakbo against sa administration, mas mabuti. So, dahil may two weeks pa, hindi ko mamadaliin ‘yung sarili ko dahil mayroon pa namang pag-asa (To me, the more that we unite and the fewer seek the presidency, the better. So since there are two weeks left, I won’t rush myself because there’s still a chance to unite),” she said.
Just the same, she said she still has to be ready for a decision before October 8.
Robredo said she wants to stop the “worst scenario” from happening, which is the possibility of the Marcoses returning to power “and what’s happening now will continue in the next six years.”
Robredo’s spokesman Ibarra Gutierrez said Marcos’ camp is afraid to face Robredo one-on-one in next year’s election because she has defeated him thrice.
“Talo sa 2016 election, talo sa recount, talo ang protesta. Para sa isang tatlong beses nang talunan, ang dami pa ring sinasabi (He lost in the 2016 election, the recount, and electoral protest. For someone who lost thrice, he is still talking to much),” he said on Twitter.
Marcos’ spokesperson Vic Rodriguez earlier said discussing a one-on-one presidential race between Marcos and Robredo is “useless” and “pointless” because it will not happen.
Gutierrez, a former Akbayan party-list lawmaker, said it is clear why Marcos is “afraid” of Robredo: “If she defeats you thrice, you will back off, too, right?”
MILITARY INTIMIDATION
Robredo called on the President not to use the military to intimidate the opposition and their supporters in 2022 polls, saying their only job is to maintain peace and order and be apolitical.
“Sana huwag nagagamit ang institutions para sa pananakot (I hope institutions will not be used to intimidate),” she said. “Ganuon na naman. Every time gusto natin mag-enforce ng policy, gagamitin ang militar. Mali ‘yun (Here we go again. Every time a policy is being enforced, the military will be used. This is wrong,” she said, adding that the military is also used in enforcing health protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The President last Friday warned against attempts to manipulate the election results, saying he is prepared to use the military to avert violence and chaos next year.
Robredo said the public should not fear the military because they are professionals who are there to protect and defend the people, not to threaten their safety.
Former Davao del Norte Gov. Anthony del Rosario, chairman emeritus of the Hugpong Para Kay Sara (HPS) Movement who is also the spokesman for the mayor’s regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), expressed belief the President’s daughter will change her mind and eventually seek the presidency.
The HPS is multisectoral group led by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco aimed at convincing his close friend Sara to seek the presidency and continue the administration’s accomplishments.
