1Sambayan to pick bets for president, VP before October —Carpio

Newly formed coalition 1Sambayan will decide on its candidates for president and vice president in the May 2022 elections before the filing of candidacies in October, its chairperson Antonio Carpio said Thursday.

“Maybe August or September just before the filing of certificates of candidacy in October of this year,” Carpio said in an interview with CNN Philippines when asked when the opposition coalition could possibly make a decision.

In the meantime, Carpio said the coalition would focus on expanding its membership.

“There are many who want to join and we have asked them to form chapters in provinces, cities, and municipalities, even in barangays, subdivisions. That is what we’re doing now. We are putting up chapters all over the country,” the retired Supreme Court justice said.

Launched just a week ago, the 1Sambayan is composed of “pro-democracy” groups and personalities aiming to field a single opposition slate of national candidates — president, vice president, 12 senators — who will square off against President Rodrigo Duterte’s bets.

This early, the group has excluded presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and Senator Manny Pacquiao from the list of possible choices for president because of their affiliation with the administration.

Carpio has also said Pacquiao lacked the competence to run the country owing to his poor attendance during his stint in the House of Representatives and in the Senate.

Pacquiao on Wednesday justified his absences, saying he had to oversee his housing project in his district.

He didn't mention the times he skipped sessions to train for his fights as the country's top boxer.

Pacquiao also said his absences did not prevent him from carrying out his legislative functions, citing the laws that he co-authored.

Carpio stood by his assessment even as he maintained that Pacquiao can seek the presidency. 

“Don’t get me wrong. Senator Pacquiao can run for president anytime. I’m not stopping him. But what I’m saying is he cannot be our candidate in the 1Sambayan because based on his track record, he will not meet our qualifications,” Carpio said.

“We have higher standards in looking for a president.” -Virgil Lopez/MDM, GMA News