THE Liberal Party is moving to convince several incumbent senators and a city official to be part of the “broadest coalition possible” in time for next year’s elections, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said yesterday.
Pangilinan, who is LP president, said the party has reached out to Senators Panfilo Lacson, Joel Villanueva, and Nancy Binay and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.
“We are open to discussions and we are open to talks with the end view precisely of having one candidate for those who believe that we have to provide a new direction,” Pangilinan said.
Lacson is an independent. Villanueva belongs to the party-list group Citizens’ Battle against Corruption of Cibac, and Binay to United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). Moreno is member of the National Unity Party.
Vice President Leni Robredo, the LP chairperson, is expected to be the party’s standard bearer on the 2022 elections but she has yet to make a decision on whether to run for president or a local post. Earlier this month, she said her priority is building a unified opposition for the 2022 polls. Robredo is one of six officials nominated by the 1Sambayan coalition as candidates for vice president or president.
Pangilinan said having the likes of Lacson, Villanueva, Binay, and Moreno as part of the “broadest coalition possible” would help bring about real change just like what happened during EDSA 1 and 2 when political figures, backed by the people, joined forces to bring down the Marcos dictatorship.
Pangilinan, however, said the talks with Lacson, Binay, Villanueva, and Moreno would be exploratory, as there would be no positions to be offered yet, but the aim is to bring these personalities together under one roof.
Lacson earlier said running for a higher officer is his only option for next year as he is not keen on seeking re-election as senator although he is still eligible.
Lacson said it was “not the first time that the LP has reached out to him “and all those times that I was approached, I always responded in an open mind.”
He, however, said he has not formally talked with Pangilinan about this.
“Sen. Kiko (Pangilinan) hindi pa (not yet). Other LP members and coalition allies, yes, matagal na (even long before),” he said.
Lacson has always run as an independent candidate but has hinted he is open to joining a political party should he decide to seek higher office next year.
Binay said there are other pressing issues that have to be settled first with the LP before she talks to its party members. She did not elaborate.
“May mga sugat na dapat munang gamutin bago kami mag-usap tungkol sa 2022 (There are wounds that needed to be healed first before we can talk about 2022),” Binay said.
Binay’s father, Jejomar, served as vice president during the presidency of Benigno S. Aquino III from 2010 to 2016. Aquino was then LP chairperson.
During the early years, the former vice president was in a good relationship with the LP but it turned sour after his family was accused of involvement in corruption.
Villanueva said he is open to having talks or even coalescing with a political party, including the Nationalist People’s Coalition, the political party of Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
“The reality is that no matter how big your party is, you never walk — or work — alone. It is always good to march with a lot of good people. That is how progress is made,” Villanueva said.
