Senator Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao on Friday, September 24, welcomed the "unity talks" being pursued by opposition coalition 1Sambayan ahead of the 2022 elections.
Pacquiao, who recently announced his plan to run for president under a faction of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), said the 1Sambayan's initiative was a "welcome development".
His office shared a photo of the senator meeting convenors of the 1Sambayan, including retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio, former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, and former Education secretary Armin Luistro, among others.
"This call for unity is truly urgent because the survival of our nation is at stake," Pacquiao said in a statement.
"Ako po ay bukas sa mga ganitong pag-uusap lalo na kung ang layunin nito ay ang maisulong ang anumang hakbang na para sa pagkakaisa at ikabubuti ng bansa (I am open to such discussion especially if the aim is to push for whatever effort to unite the people for the benefit of the country)," he added.
Government leaders, he said, should be open to these and "give importance to the welfare of the people and not their personal interests."
"We must unite for the greater good. We must unite because in unity, there is victory," he appealed.
Earlier Friday, the 1Sambayan said that aside from Pacquiao, it is also talking with Vice President Leni Robredo, former Senator Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV, and Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso.
Trillanes and Domagoso have previously announced their intention to run for presidency.
The 1Sambayan hopes to unite a single opposition slate for the 2022 elections