Sara Duterte finds 1Sambayan 'authoritarian', hits group for 'othering'

The new political coalition 1Sambayan which aims to field a united opposition to President Rodrigo Duterte's anointed candidates in 2022 appears to be "authoritarian", Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has said.

According to a report on "24 Oras", Duterte's daughter said 1Sambayan claimed to be a coalition of democratic forces but rejected those who disagreed with its leaders.

“They sound authoritarian to me,” Sara said.

“What this country needs is unity, not messages with the word reject. ‘Othering’ is the word that comes to mind when they speak,” she added.

1Sambayan leader retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has said Sara and Senator Manny Pacquiao would not be considered to be among its candidates because of their ties to Duterte.

Last week, several anti-administration forces vowed to field a unified opposition ticket in the May 2022 national elections.

1Sambayan aims to come up with a single slate of national candidates — president, vice president, 12 senators — who will run against President Rodrigo Duterte’s preferred successor and his other bets.

Carpio said they already had initial discussions with possible candidates for president or vice president: Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Senators Nancy Binay and Grace Poe, Vice President Leni Robredo, and former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

Meanwhile, 1Sambayan convener Atty. Howard Calleja responded to Sara's remarks.

“We are inclusive but we have to draw the line between the real democratic forces and from those that claim to be ‘democratic’ but actions are authoritarian coupled by incompetence and corruption,” Calleja said. -Ma. Angelica Garcia/NB, GMA News