Opposition coalition 1SAMBAYAN announced the six nominees the organization will be choosing from to become their candidates for president and vice president in the 2022 elections.
In its Independence Day program on Saturday, 1SAMBAYAN convenor former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the following people agreed to be part of their field of nominees:
- Vice President Leni Robredo
- Sen. Grace Poe
- Deputy Speaker Vilma Santos-Recto
- Deputy Speaker Eddie Villanueva
- Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV
- Lawyer Chel Diokno
1SAMBAYAN's selection process aims to come up with a single slate of candidates who would go against administration bets in 2022.
Of the six, only Trillanes has announced his intention to run for President. However, he said he would step aside if Vice President Robredo decides to run for the post.
During the prerecorded program, 1SAMBAYAN convenor Fr. Albert Alejo, SJ, said they were looking for Filipinos who would give Filipinos a better life and not someone from a particular family.
"Ang tamang kandidato ay hindi lang basta hulog ng langit... o hinuhugot sa isang pamilya (The right candidate cannot be picked from the heavens or from a certain family)," he said.
"Ang hanap po talaga natin ay yung magigiting na Pilipino na may tapat na pamumuno at ihahatid tayo sa maginhawang pamumuhay para sa ating bayan, lalong-lalo na sa mga mahihirap (What we're looking for are brave Filipinos who have honest leadership and will bring the people and the country a comfortable life, especially the poor)," he added.
Alejo said people should now be smart in choosing candidates.
"Kung nagkamali man tayo noong una, dapat ngayon hindi na (If we made a mistake the last time, we should not let that happen again)," he said.
1SAMBAYAN is screening their nominees based on their character, competence, track record, and educational background.
The group's audio-visual presentation shown during the program said their candidate must have honesty, integrity, faith in God, sound mind and body, patriotism, clean track record, dynamic vision for the country, and deep understanding of the economy. The candidate must also value human rights and know how to listen to experts and the ordinary people.
Last week, Malacañang downplayed the ability of 1SAMBAYAN to field a winning candidate in the 2022 polls after the coalition said the public will reject the Duterte-Duterte tandem next year.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the opposition should just wait for the elections to see the real sentiments of the people.
"See you on election day. Taumbayan po ang magdedesisyon diyan (The people will decide on that)," he said.
He, however, wondered why the opposition was claiming to be the spokesperson of the people.
“Kung titignan niyo ang surveys, wala pa pong limang porsyento ang hindi sumusuporta sa ating Presidente. So mag-ingat po tayo (If you will look at the surveys, those who do not support the President is only less than five percent of the population),” he said.
“Bagama’t sinasabi nating kayo ay boses ng taumbayan, baka boses lang kayo ng isang barangay (Even though you are saying you are the voice of the people, you may just really be the voice of one barangay),” he added.
Early this week, President Duterte said he was resisting calls to run for vice president. However, Roque said the President has not really rejected the idea yet.