There are “no expectations” from its nominees to make “firm decisions” to run for national posts, opposition coalition 1Sambayan said on Sunday, June 13, after four of its nominees declined the offer to join its ticket for the 2022 polls.
Senator Grace Poe, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, and Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto said they were honored to be chosen by the coalition to run as either president or vice president, but they declined the invitation as they are busy with their own programs and responsibilities.
Senator Joel Villanueva also denied his father, religious leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva, has plans to run for the highest elective post next year. He said that the evangelist is “not interested” to run as president.
In a statement, 1Sambayan said that “there was no objection by the nominee after initial discussion,” which led to the list of six nominees they revealed on Saturday, June 12, in time for the country’s 123rd commemoration of Independence Day.
“There were no expectations of firm decisions to run for specific positions at this point in time,” the group said, stressing that “no one—not even the administration’s ‘anointed ones’—have openly declared their ambitions for Public Office, even as some have already embarked on ad campaigns.”
Aside from Poe, Diokno, and Santos-Recto, 1Sambayan also nominated Vice President Leni Robredo and former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
READ: Robredo, 5 others in 1SAMBAYAN list for president, VP in 2022
Robredo has yet to decide whether to run for president or governor of Camarines Sur, but she did not decline the nomination. Trillanes welcomed the nomination, and has been vocal about wanting to run as the opposition’s standard-bearer.
“We trust the wisdom of the convenors of 1Sambayan and we believe that this is the only vehicle toward the victory of the opposition in 2022,” Trillanes said in Filipino.
Senator Nancy Binay and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno declined for their names to be included in the list of the coalition’s nominees.
“1Sambayan supports our nominees’ desire to think, weigh, and discern if it is truly their personal mission to be in positions of power. It is not an easy decision to make. After all, true servant leadership is a challenging vocation,” 1Sambayan said.
The coalition added that they arrived at the list they presented after weighing the nominees’ character, capability, and track record.
The six nominees met the three basic requirements, which are that they were nominated by a bonafide member of 1Sambayan, that they raised no objection after the initial discussion, and that “they all believe in the unity of the democratic and good governance forces.”