Palace to Carpio-led opposition: Good luck but too early for politics

Malacañang said Thursday it was too early to talk about politics after a coalition of anti-administration forces vowed to challenge President Rodrigo Duterte’s bets in the May 2022 elections.

Calling itself “1Sambayan,” the coalition of “pro-democracy” groups and personalities headed by retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio aims to field a single opposition slate of national candidates — president, vice president, 12 senators — with Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Grace Poe among its possible choices.

“It’s too early to discuss elections and politics,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said at a press briefing. “We always say that we should set aside politics because there is still a pandemic going on.”

Still, Roque wished Carpio and the rest of the coalition the “best.”

In a video message during the launch, Carpio said Filipinos deserved a “better government.”

“There are Filipino leaders who can do a much better job of running the government, reviving the economy, creating jobs for our people, and defending our territory and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea,” he said.

The coalition said its candidates will be chosen based on their track record, stand on key issues, policy platform, and competence. -MDM, GMA News