Presidential aspirants Vice President Leni Rebredo and Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso must be willing to work together in order to win the fight against former Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, said former Liberal Party stalwart on Tuesday, Oct. 12.
"Ang posibilidad, ang nakikita ko sa surveys, kung magsasama si VP Leni at si Isko, malaki ang posibilidad na matalo sila Marcos at Duterte... Kung gusto natin mabawi ang bansa natin dapat open si Mayor Isko, dapat open si VP, na magsama sila (The possibility, what I see in the surveys, is that if VP Leni and Isko come together, there is a big possibility that Marcos and Duterte will be defeated ... "If we want to regain our country, Mayor Isko must be open, VP must be open, to work together)," said Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice, member of the Aksyon Demokratiko, in an interview with ANC Headstart.
"I think there's a chance for unification. Kung lalabas 'yung numbers, makikita naman natin 'yan. Sinasabi ko nga dapat open si Mayor Isko, dapat open si VP Leni kung ano 'yung picture ng numbers at kung wala naman talagang ibang dapat gawin para matapos na itong pang-aabuso ng gobyernong ito, hindi na makabalik 'yung mga Marcos ( If the numbers come out, we will see that. Like what I am saying is that Mayor Isko should be open, VP Leni should be open about what the picture of the numbers is and if there is really nothing else to be done to end this abuse by this government, to not let Marcos be able to return)," he added.
Erice said it would be the fault of Robredo if the Marcoses win again.
"Yan yung sinabi ni VP Leni, na kung makakabawas siya, yung kanyang percentage makakabawas sa pwedeng tumalo sa Marcoses, Dutertes, eh hindi na siya tatakbo (That's what VP Leni said, that if her percentage will reduce the chance of beating Marcoses, Dutertes, eh she won't run)," he said.
Erice added Robredo's plans to unify the opposition was "bordering on intellectual dishonesty".
"Ang sabi sa'min ni VP Leni she will unify the opposition kaya nga kinakausap niya pero how can you unify when deep inside you meron kang desire or wag nang desire (VP Leni told us she will unify the opposition so she is talking to them but how can you unify when deep inside you have desire or), maybe you’re entertaining the idea of running for President. It’s bordering to intellectual dishonesty," he added.
Robredo earlier said Domagoso's stance on the family of Marcos "in a way" prompted her to run in the 2022 national elections.
"Maraming points na hindi kami aligned. Mahirap ipilit 'yung unity kung sa basic na prinsipyo hindi kayo nagkakaisa (There are many points that we are not aligned with. It is difficult to insist on unity if you are not united in basic principle)," she said.
Domagoso, meanwhile, said he would focus on Filipinos and not on the fights among political families.
"Pagod na ang mga tao sa away ng mga politika nila… Kung sila ay hindi nag-aaway sa loob ng tatlong dekada, malamang wala tayo sa kinalalagyan nating kahirapan (People are tired of politics fight… If they haven't fought in three decades, we probably aren't in our poverty position)."
Robredo filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) for presidency on Oct. 7, while Domagoso filed his COC on October 4.
Erice was appointed on Monday, Oct 11, as the Aksyon Demokratiko's Regional Chairperson
He is set to represent the party's all official functions of the upcoming national elections.