TOP pro-democracy groups and personalities, which include retired Supreme Court Justices, had just formed a coalition that would select national candidates for a single, united democratic slate in time for the 2022 general elections.
Galvanizing the erstwhile fragmented democratic forces in the country, the nascent 1Sambayan national coalition aims to restore good governance, something that the new political coalition aptly hinted to as an alien concept in the Duterte administration.
Former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio, former Ombudsman and Supreme Court Justice Conchita Carpio Morales, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, former Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, and anti-corruption activist Bert Alejo, are among the personalities who convened the coalition representing the democratic forces spanning the Philippine political spectrum – from Bayan Muna on one end, to the Magdalo Group on the other end.
In a statement posted on social media, 1Sambayan said the group constitutes democratic forces embarking on enough numbers to muster and secure a victory in the national elections on May 9, 2022.
The same statement categorically reiterated that President Rodrigo Duterte won in 2016 via plurality, and not by a majority of votes, adding that he would have lost the election if there were fewer other candidates who campaigned on more democratic, realistic, and reasonable platforms.
“1Sambayan aims to select a single slate of national candidates – president, vice president, 12 senators – to represent the democratic forces in May 2022. Political parties and groups among the democratic forces have pledged their support to 1Sambayan, and have agreed to abide by its selection of candidates,” 1Sambayan said in its statement.
In a separate statement, retired SC Justice Carpio said:
“The Philippines in 2022 cannot risk falling under another administration similar to Duterte’s, whose failed response to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with its unsound policies on major political, security, and economic matters have set the Philippines back, causing it to relapse into the ‘Sick Man of Asia.’ The democratic forces must then rally in order to block a victory by Duterte’s heir, whomever it will be. A brand new, competent leadership with integrity must take over when Duterte steps down next year. We have a lot of good people but they are not in leadership positions. Their talent, their patriotism – they’re all wasted because they are not in leadership positions. What we have to do is to put the right people there.”
The 1Sambayan national coalition will officially introduce its convenors and members in a media event at the Makati Sports Club on Thursday, March 18, at 10 a.m. At the event, the convenors will discuss their plans on the selection of candidates for the democratic forces.
(Photo credit: 1Sambayan Facebook page)