Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo's senatorial line-up for the May 2022 elections will not be Liberal Party (LP)-centric.
Robredo made this guarantee Friday, Oct. 8, even as she said that the full slate would be announced "early next week".
"Continuing pa yung pagbuo ng aming slate (Our slate is still being formed). Pero (But) I will assure you na yung (that our) slate namin is not just composed of representatives from the Liberal Party, pero (but) representatives from many different parties," she said in a press conference at the Quezon City Reception House, where she holds office.
"We will announce the slate I guess early next week. Makikita niyo (You will see) when we announce it na ito ay pagsasama ng iba't ibang pinanggalingan (that this is a unity of people coming from different places)," she said.
Unity has been the catch word of the Vice President for the past few weeks, especially when she was pursuing a united ticket with fellow administration critics Senator Manny Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso. Pacquiao and Moreno have already filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) for president.
LP Chairman Robredo filed her COC on Thursday afternoon, after declaring her presidential candidacy that same morning to much fanfare.
"We continue to be open to discussions. Pero yung pagkandidato ay tuloy na tuloy bilang Pangulo (But the presidential candidacy will definitely push through)," said Robredo, who had to go through a lengthy discernment process before the announcement of her Palace bid.
Robredo said 1Sambayan, the opposition coalition that endorsed her for president last week, will nominate individuals to the opposition Senate slate. Despite this, Robredo said she was given "free rein" by 1Sambayan to choose her "senatoriables".
The Vice President did give at least five names that are included her senatorial line-up: reelectionists Risa Hontiveros and Leila de Lima; Magdalo leader, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV; human rights advocate and former law dean Jose Manuel 'Chel' Diokno; and former Ifugao Congressman Teodoro Baguilat Jr.
Only De Lima and Baguilat are LP members, although the rest are identified as party alles. Baguilat filled the slot of Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, who filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) Thursday as Robredo’s running mate.
Former Senator Paolo Benigno 'Bam' Aquino IV was supposed to be part of the slate too, but he has opted to serve instead as Robredo’s campaign manager.
Robredo said they have received confirmation from others that they will join her slate, but declined to name them.