Ka Leody's camp says attempt to forge alliance with Robredo 'ignored'

The camp of labor leader Leody de Guzman on Thursday said they had tried to reach out to Vice President Leni Robredo to forge a united opposition for the 2022 elections but they were “ignored.”

During an ANC interview, de Guzman’s campaign manager Sonny Melencio said they tried to approach Robredo and 1Sambayan, the coalition that is endorsing her presidential bid, before she announced her intention to run for president.

“Nung una, nag-open kami. Actually, we were trying to makipag-usap kay Vice President Leni at ‘yung grupo na nag-endorse sa kanya, yung 1Sambayan. Pero parang, to say it bluntly, we were ignored and no meetings happened,” he said.

(We were trying to talk to Robredo and the group that endorsed her, 1Sambayan. However, it seems that, to say it bluntly, we were ignored and no meetings happened.)

Melencio said de Guzman, known for his pro-poor and pro-workers stances, should have been “considered” by Robredo if she is also championing the marginalized sector.

“If you are running para sa mga laylayan sana ng lipunan, I think we have to be considered kasi ‘yun ‘yung platform na dala-dala namin,” he said.

(If you are championing the marginalized sector, I think we have to be considered because that is the platform we are carrying.)

1Sambayan: No info

GMA News Online has reached out to Robredo for her comment on Melencio’s statement, but she has yet to reply as of posting time.

Meanwhile, in an online forum, retired Supreme Court justice and 1Sambayan convenor Antonio Carpio said he was not privy to de Guzman's attempt to reach out to Robredo.

“I really don’t know the facts here whether he was ignored or he was informed. I’m sorry, but I do not know the discussions or whether he, Leody de Guzman, reached out to the VP Leni group. I really don’t know,” he said.

1Sambayan spokesperson Joseph Peter Calleja echoed Carpio, saying they have no information on the matter.

“We are not familiar, we don’t have personal knowledge of any effort ng pag-reach out niya kay VP Leni [of him reaching out to Robredo],” he said.

It could be recalled that Robredo, the lead opposition figure in the 2022 elections, met with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Senator Manny Pacquiao in hopes of forging a united opposition. However, the three ended up joining the 2022 presidential race, along with de Guzman.

United front

Asked if de Guzman would still run as president or would just support Robredo if she had responded to them, Melencio said, “Yes, kasi ang pag-uusap na…the time na hindi pa nga din siya nagde-declare na-ano na ‘yan, i-push natin ‘yung isang united front.”

(Yes, because during the time when Robredo has not also declared yet, we wanted to push for a united front.)

Melencio said de Guzman’s party wanted to have a new platform of governance such as implementing the anti-political dynasty provision, but their plans for a united front did not push through.

The campaign period for candidates running for national positions has officially started Tuesday, February 8, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. —KBK, GMA News