Despite the announcements of Senator Emmanuel 'Manny' Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Francisco 'Isko Moreno' Domagoso to run for president, opposition coalition 1Sambayan on Sunday, September 26, said it will continue to hold consultative meetings with anti-administration forces as they hoped to forge a united opposition for the 2022 polls.
The convenors of 1Sambayan, led by retired Supreme Court associate justice Antonio Carpio, retired Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario continue to meet with Pacquiao, Domagoso, Vice President Leni Robredo, and former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV less than a week to go before the candidates for the 2022 national polls start to file their Certificates of Candidacy (COC).
The group posted photos of the lead convenors in separate meetings with Robredo, Domagoso, Trillanes, and Pacquiao.
In a statement posted on their official Facebook page, the coalition said that these meetings are part of the “selection process” to come up with their “Pambato” (official bet) for the presidency in next year’s polls.
1Sambayan is set to announce its presidential bet on September 30, a day before the COC filing starts. The COC filing period is from October 1 to 8.
READ: 1Sambayan eyes announcement of candidates by Sept. 30
“Ang mga konsultasyong ito ay ginagawa ng 1Sambayan para tiyakin na ang ating Pambato ay may taglay na katangiang hinahanap natin sa isang pinuno (1Sambayan is doing the consultations to ensure that our Pambato has the characteristics that we are looking for in a leader),” the group stressed.
They are looking for character or “integrity,” capability or “capable leadership,” and track record or “someone who has done many things.”
1Sambayan said that part of the process is an internal survey of their members who will choose their Pambato, including the issues that the next administration has to solve.
Earlier, the coalition launched “Pulso ng 1Sambayan,” an internal survey for its members to help the group choose who among their nominees should be their candidate for the presidency.
“Mananatiling tapat ang 1SAMBAYAN sa adhikaing pumili ng tamang Pambato. Kaya’t patuloy naming isusulong ang pagkakaisa o unity sa aming mga nominado para sa isang Unity Ticket upang labanan kung sino man ang babasbasan ng administrasyong Duterte sa susunod na halalan (1Sambayan will continue to be honest to its advocacy of choosing the right bet. That’s why we are still pushing for unity among our nominees for a Unity Ticket to face whoever the Duterte administration will endorse for elections),” it said.
READ: 1Sambayan's unity talks with presidential aspirants continue
Pacquiao and Domagoso have already announced their intention to run as president, with the Manila mayor choosing Dr. Willie Ong as his runningmate. Domagoso reportedly reached out to Robredo before his announcement to inform her of his decision.
The boxer-senator has yet to pick a vice-presidential runningmate while Robredo said she’s giving herself until Oct. 8 in deciding to seek the country’s highest post. She added that her goal in joining or not joining the race is to stop the Marcoses from regaining power and to stop the current level of governance from continuing.
Trillanes, who previously said he wants to run as president, is ready to back down from his plans only if Robredo decides to pursue her candidacy.