The Liberal Party is open to forging alliances with other political parties if Vice President Leni Robredo, its chairperson, decides not to run for president in the 2022 elections, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Wednesday.
"We are open to alliances, that is the reality of politics today. As we said, we should only have one candidate," Drilon, a senior Liberal Party member, told ANC when asked about the party's next move if Robredo decides to not to vie for the presidency.
Robredo is among the nominees of the 1Sambayan opposition coalition for president and vice president in the 2022 elections. The coalition aims to come up with a single slate of candidates to run against the administration ticket backed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Robredo is the "strongest" candidate for president in 2022 and she can unite all "non-Duterte" candidates, Drilon said. While it is a "very difficult task," he said 1Sambayan's goal to have just one opposition candidate is "desirable."
"We do hope that the opposition can come up with only one candidate. As in any election in the past, the administration would always have the advantage. We must exert every effort to have one candidate to oppose the administration candidate," he said.
In any case, Drilon said all Liberal Party members will rally behind Robredo if she decides to run for president next year.
In 2019, the Liberal Party also allied with Akbayan, Magdalo party-list, and Aksyon Demokratiko to form the Otso Diretso coalition, which fielded eight opposition senatorial candidates for the May 2019 midterm elections.
Robredo earlier said she remained open to running for president despite the claims of former Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya that the vice president was running for governor of the province next year.
Apart from Robredo, the other nominees of 1Sambayan are former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Sen. Grace Poe, CIBAC party-list Rep. Eddie Villanueva, Atty. Chel Diokno, and Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto.
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