Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, a senatorial aspirant for the May 2022 elections, hope that opposition coalition 1Sambayan’s endorsement of Vice President Leni Robredo will finally encourage her to join the race.
The vice president remains undecided about her political plans in 2022 and insists on uniting the pro-democratic forces she sees in Senator Manny Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, both of whom have already declared their presidential bids.
“Now that the 1Sambayan has endorsed VP Leni, we hope that she would be encouraged to finally decide and run for president. We, in the Magdalo group, have been consistent in urging her to run as we believe in her capacity to save the country from the mess (that) Duterte has put us into,” Trillanes said in a statement.
READ: Robredo is 1Sambayan candidate for president in 2022 polls
“If she decides to run, the Magdalo group would fully support her to ensure her win,” the former senator added.
Trillanes also topped 1Sambayan’s internal survey for vice president, but the coalition’s chairman and convenor retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said they have to discuss the unity slate with Robredo first.
On his Facebook page, Diokno called 1Sambayan’s endorsement of Robredo “well-deserved.”
"This is a well-deserved nomination. Walang ibang handang pamunuan tayo kundi si VP Leni. Hoping na handa ang united opposition para suportahan si VP (No one is more ready to lead us than VP Leni. We hope the united opposition is ready to support VP) if she decides to run!,” he said.
Diokno has recently been endorsed by the Liberal Party (LP), which Robredo chairs, as a guest senatorial candidate for its 2022 slate.
READ: Diokno throws hat in opposition’s unity slate
On Thursday, 1Sambayan officially endorsed Robredo after majority of their members voted for to be the group’s presidential nominee. Carpio said the endorsement is also based on the vice president’s competency, track record, love for country, patriotism, and integrity.