1Sambayan convenor Etta Rosales says it's "just a matter of days" before the opposition coalition reveals its endorsement for a presidential candidate in the May 2022 national elections.
Speaking in a virtual press conference on the eve of the 49th anniversary of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos's declaration of martial law, Rosales named two "favorites" for the post as far as the different 1Sambayan sectors are concerned.
"Kung titignan mo lamang, sa mayorya ng mga sectors within (1)Sambayan, malakas yung...hindi sila isa lamang ang gusto. It's also divided. Pero malakas yung mga pro-VPL, Vice President Leni , pero mayroon ding Isko na lumalabas doon (If you look at it, the majority of the sectors of 1Sambayan have more than one preference. It's also divided. But the pro-VPLs or those for Vice President Leni Robredo are strong, although there are also those favoring Isko)," she said Monday, Sept. 20.
Regarding the coalition's announcement, Rosales said: "It's just a matter of days. And it's going to be internal that it's going to be just an endorsement muna (first) because frankly...frankly, the politicians have got to get their acts together."
The former Akbayan congresswoman reiterated the importance of having a unified slate as to who will be opposition's presidential candidate, vice presidential candidate, and senatorial line-up.
She urged the youth to speak their mind about the upcoming polls on social media, saying that politicians actually listen if these voices are strong enough.
"Alam niyo yung mga politko nakikinig yan eh...ilabas ninyo ang boses ninyo, ang tinig ninyo (You know, those politicians listen...speak up, let your voices be heard) and let it reverberate into the different sectors. May pag-asa pa rin tayo (We still have hope)," she said.
Rosales reiterated that 1Sambayan can only endorse candidates at the end of the day.
"Within this month, inaayos na namin (we're fixing it now). It's going to be a matter of days...But it's just going to be an endorsement because we cannot come up with somebody, halimbawa, hindi naman pala siya tatakbo (for example, who is not planning to run).
"It's a crazy world, but this is something that we are tackling within our own internal surveys," she said.
The filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for those running in next year's elections will begin in October.