Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. thought there was nothing wrong with candidates for senators in the 2022 elections joining more than one slate, saying inclusiveness has always been part of human nature.
Locsin made the statement as senate slates for the 2022 elections share candidates and mix their allies and political rivals.
Former Vice President Jejomar Binay is one of those candidates who are part of three senate slates. He is included in the slates of Vice President Leni Robredo, Senator Panfilo Lacson, and Senator Manny Pacquiao.
In a tweet, Locsin slammed those who frowned at senate slates sharing their candidates.
"THAT IS CALLED INCLUSIVENESS. You cynics never believed we could attain that," he said Saturday, October 16.
"I was always sure because human nature transcends all differences which are superficial in the face of mutual advantage," he added.
"There is hope for mankind—of a kind," he continued.
The public was surprised on Friday after Vice President Robredo bared the names of her "diverse" senate slate which is made of 11 people including political rivals Binay and former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
In a press briefing on Friday, October 15, the Vice President did not specify if Binay and Trillanes are now on good terms but said the two of them joining one slate is already an achievement.
"Masyadong divisive na iyong bansa natin. Ang dami nating problemang hinaharap, na hindi magandang approach na tayo-tayo iyong mga nagbabangayan kasi pare-pareho naman iyong pinaglalaban natin (Our country has become very divisive. We are facing many problems and it won't be good if we will fight one another when we have the same goal)," Robredo said.
"Totoong nagkaroon ng mga hidwaan in the past pero the mere fact na lahat ready to work together, tingin ko napakalaking achievement na noon (It's true that we had conflict in the past but the mere fact that everyone is willing to work together is already a big achievement)," she added.
Before the current administration, former Vice President Binay has not been exactly friends with the Liberal Party which Robredo chairs. Trillanes, meanwhile, launched a long-running investigation on alleged corruption in Makati City that derailed Binay's presidential bid.
Trillanes was among the many personalities who accused Binay of alleged overpriced Makati City Hall 2 parking building when the latter was the mayor of the city. They claimed that Binay was receiving kickbacks from contractors and had unexplained wealth.
The allegations were the subject of 25 Senate hearings which lasted from August 2014 to January 2016.
Both Binay and Trillanes have expressed willingness to cooperate, saying they share a common goal.