1Sambayan bared its shortlist of possible presidential bets led by Vice President Leni Robredo, CIBAC party-list Rep. Eddie Villanueva, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, human-rights lawyer Chel Diokno, Senator Grace Poe and Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto.
1Sambayan co-convenor Atty. Howard Calleja said the coalition already talked to the six nominees for them to set aside their personal interests as the group seeks to field only one candidate for president and vice-president.
“Nakausap na namin at slla ay sumasang-ayon sa prinsipyo na kailangang magkaisa-isa, kailangan isa lang ang kandidato sa presidente at bise presidente at sila’y sumasama at nakikilahok sa proseso at magrerespeto sa kung ano man ang resulta ng proseso po,” said Calleja.
Conspicuously missing from the list is Manila Mayor Isko Moreno.
Calleja said they already have 40 member coalitions and organizations within their group and is still growing, with up to 4 million members.
1Sambayan launched in March led by key political figures and former senior government officials, including former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, former Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, and former foreign affairs chief Albert del Rosario.
The list was said to be the result of month-long consultations between parties and personalities who had agreed on the common goal of challenging whoever President Rodrigo Duterte would be endorsing as his successor.
1Sambayan was supposed to make the announcement for the senatorial line up but opted to defer it to a later date.