1Sambayan hopes nominees will change their minds

The 1Sambayan coalition respects the rejection of some of their nominees in the 2022 elections.

Among those who earlier refused were Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Sen. Grace Poe, and Sen. Nancy Binay, who was invited by 1Sambayan to be “nominees” as the standard-bearer of the opposition in 2022.

“I think what is clear is everything is fluid and open, when you say you are not interested or when you say there’s no plans. But of course, all of these can change tomorrow or next week,” said 1Sambayan co-convenor Howard Calleja.

“That’s why we are saying we are giving them time. We respect the time of discernment,” he added.

However, they hope it is still possible to change.

But Lacson said it didn’t seem like a good start for the coalition.

“I don’t think it’s a good start for the 1Sambayan, to say the least. Among those nominees, the 6 of them, 4 have declined, and only 2 are left. That doesn’t speak well of a conveners’ group making choices for the 2022 national elections,” said Lacson.

Lacson added that 1Sambayan seems to be too delicate in choosing the candidates they want.

“I don’t think they are inclusive enough. People think, or at least those that I’ve spoken to, that there’s exclusiveness in looking for nominees because they have set the standards,” the senator added.

1Sambayan hopes nominees will change their minds

On Sunday, Vice President Leni Robredo, one of the “nominees” of 1Sambayan, said that “we must always be open and there must always be space to listen to others” to have real unity among the opposition.

Among the “nominees” of 1Sambayan that were made public on Saturday are the following:

Robredo
Poe
Ex-Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV
Santos-Recto
CIBAC party-list Rep. Eddie Villanueva
Human Rights lawyer Chel Diokno