Diokno exudes optimism on opposition's winning chances in 2022 elections
Senatorial candidate and human rights lawyer Jose Manuel 'Chel' Diokno has reasons to believe that the opposition slate is in a better position to win in the 2022 national elections.

"I am much, much more optimistic about our chances in 2022," Diokno, who is running for senator under Vice President Leni Robredo’s ticket, said Tuesday night, Dec. 14, on TV 5.
He expressed confidence that the opposition led by Robredo is not at a disadvantage this time compared to the 2019 midterm polls.
The veteran lawyer first tried to enter politics when he ran as senator as part of the Liberal Party’s (LP) Otso Diretso slate in 2019. He however failed to enter the Magic 12, ranking only 21st in the total votes tallied.
"Kumpara sa 2019, hindi ganun kadehado ang oposisyon ngayon. Noong 2019, kung minsan pumupunta kami sa isang lalawigan, biglang mawawala iyong mga mayor, vice mayor (Compared to 2019, the opposition is not at a disadvantage now. In 2019, sometimes we went to a province, the mayor, vice mayor, suddenly disappeared)," he said.
Local officials, according to Diokno, have received them well this time during their visits in various areas across the country.
"Maganda ang pagtanggap sa amin sa mga napuntahan namin so far (We had warm reception in the places we visited),” said Diokno, who shared the warm welcome he got from local officials when he recently visited Pangasinan.
He attended the 1Pangasinan People’s Council in Lingayen and spoke before 600 youth leaders in Dagupan City in an event organized by Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KaNP) councilors Michael Fernandez ang Karlos Reyna.
The human rights lawyer also met with Pangasinan 4th District Rep. Christopher De Venecia, former Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez and Dagupan Vice Mayor BK Kua. He also paid a courtesy visit to Lingayen Mayor Pol Bataoil and Vice Mayor Judy Vargas-Quiocho.