Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 22) — The Liberal Party, along with “similarly minded” groups, is making efforts to reach out to possible candidates from outside the opposition in hopes of fielding a solid slate against the administration in 2022, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, LP president, said Tuesday.
Pangilinan named four prospective allies: Senators Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Joel Villanueva and Nancy Binay, and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. He said LP is working with like-minded groups, including the 1Sambayan coalition, which is expanding its list of presidential and vice-presidential nominees.
“Ang 1Sambayan kinakausap ang iba’t ibang mga grupo. Sabi nila hindi lamang yun ang mga pangalan na kanilang kinokonsidera. Meron pang maaaring isama roon. So that’s a welcome development,” Pangilinan told Senate reporters.
[Translation: 1Sambayan is talking to different groups. They said their initial list is not the only names they are considering. Other nominees can be added to it. So that’s a welcome development.]
“Dahil sa akin, andyan si Senator Lacson, andyan si Senator Villanueva, andyan si Senator Binay, nandyan si Isko Moreno, of course si Vice President Leni [Robredo]. Can you imagine kung lahat yun magkaisa para sabihin na gusto natin ng mas magandang direksyon ng ating bansa,” he added.
[Translation: Because for me, there’s Senator Lacson, Senator Villanueva, Senator Binay, Isko Moreno, and of course, Vice President Leni Robredo. Can you imagine if all of them would unite and say we want a good direction for our country?]
Of these names, only Robredo was in the initial list of six nominees announced by 1Sambayan.
Pangilinan said the talks with Lacson, Villanueva, Binay, and Moreno would be exploratory – no positions would be offered yet – but the goal is to bring together the “biggest coalition possible” and come up with a single slate, from President down to Senators.
When asked about Lacson, who previously said he’s only considering gunning for the presidency and not any other post, and with Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III as vice president, Pangilinan said this can be discussed.
“We are open to discussions, and we are open to talks with the end in view precisely of having one candidate for those who believe that we have to provide a new direction,” Pangilinan said.
Not closing doors
In a statement, Lacson said he remains open to talking to LP, but could not say the same for 1Sambayan.
“As far as the Liberal Party [is concerned], it is work in progress. I guess it’s the scheduling and other factors kaya hindi pa inuupuan – until the 1Sambayan coalition emerged, with public pronouncements that tend to divide rather than unite,” Lacson said.
He earlier turned down 1Sambayan’s offer to be among its presidential nominees citing pronouncements made by its lead convenor, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, which he said “precluded” him from participating in the coalition.
Meanwhile, Villanueva said his political party, the Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption, is open to coalesce with other groups, amid offers from LP and the Nationalist People’s Coalition, which is allied with the administration.
Binay, meanwhile, is cold towards LP.
“May mga sugat na dapat munang gamutin bago kami mag-usap tungkol sa 2022 (There are wounds that have to heal before we talk about 2022),” she said, alluding to her familiy’s old rift with the party.
Her father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay, ran under a different slate, but won and served as vice president under the administration of Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, who chaired the LP. They were initially friendly but later traded barbs amid corruption allegations against the Binay family, which led the patriarch to resign from the Aquino Cabinet.
Moreno, who earlier confirmed plans to run for higher office in 2022, said talks about politics are “untimely and premature” at this point and he’s focused on Manila’s vaccination program.
The country is three months away from the filing of certificates of candidacy which the Commission on Elections scheduled from October 1 to 8.
