LP to back Eleksyon 2022 candidate outside the party if Robredo does not run

Liberal Party President Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Sunday said that the Liberal Party was willing to support a candidate outside the party should Vice President Leni Robredo decide not to run for the presidency during Eleksyon 2022.

"Kung ang magiging desisyon niya ay hindi siya tatakbo, handa tayong makipag-ugnayan o makipag-usap sa iba na hindi miyembro ng LP na maari (tayong) magkasundo at isantabi ang differences to unite and provide an alternative to the current administration’s choices,” he said.

(If she decides not to run, we're ready to discuss the matter with those who are not LP members, set aside our differences to unite to provide an alternative to the current administration’s choice.)

Earlier, Robredo said supporters of the opposition should be inclusive to achieve unity as the national and local elections are being anticipated next year.

Pangilinan meanwhile said that he fully supported Vice President Robredo's call to field one candidate for the presidency to run against the administration's candidate.

“Sabi niya we have to have one candidate dahil kinakailangang magkaisa. Otherwise, kung tatlo o apat na kandidato eh malaki ang tyansa na administrasyon pa rin ang mananalo. So iyan, number one, kailangan isa. And she also said it does not have to be her,” he said.

(She said that we have to have one candidate. Otherwise, if there are three or four candidates the administration likely would win. So there, the first thing is there should be one candidate. And she also said it does not have to be her.)

"For unity to be achieved, we must set aside our differences and focus not on what divides us but on what unites us. Setting aside our differences to achieve unity is paramount,” he added.

Lawyer Howard Calleja, a convenor of opposition coalition 1Sambayan, meanwhile, expressed confidence that the opposition will unite behind one presidential candidate for the 2022 polls, saying the group is committed to coalition building and is not elitist.

1Sambayan unveiled its nominees for the presidency and vice presidency in the 2022 polls which included Robredo, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Senator Grace Poe, CIBAC party-list Representative Eduardo Villanueva, lawyer Jose Manuel "Chel" Diokno, and Batangas Representative Vilma Santos-Recto. — DVM, GMA News