The Liberal Party is tapping Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, and other incumbent senators to form the "broadest unity possible" for the 2022 elections, the party president said Tuesday.
Senator Francis Pangilinan said there were ongoing "efforts to reach out" to Moreno, Senators Panfilo Lacson, Joel Villanueva, and Nancy Binay as he stressed the need to bring together those who could provide solutions and a clear direction to address the country's problems.
"The Liberal Party is willing, with the leadership of our vice president, to help bring together, cobble together the broadest unity possible come 2022," he told reporters in a virtual interview.
Pangilinan said that for the sake of unity, the LP was reaching out to Lacson, who is considering running for president in the 2022 elections.
"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," he added.
Pangilinan said the Liberal Party was also open to accepting Diokno and other former Otso Diretso candidates in its 2022 slate. Diokno said last week that he was running in the 2022 elections, for a still undisclosed position.
"Kung magdedesisyon siya (Diokno) na tumakbo, bukas tayo. And other Otso Diretso candidates who are interested, we will obviously consider them," Pangilinan said.
Pangilinan backed the efforts of the 1Sambayan coalition to form a single slate to run against the administration ticket in the 2022 elections.
The coalition recently announced its potential candidates for the next year's polls, including Liberal Party chairperson Vice President Leni Robredo and Diokno. Moreno and Binay, however, declined the nomination offer of the coalition.
Although the Liberal Party is a separate entity from 1Sambayan, Pangilinan said the LP would continue to engage with the coalition to come up with a united slate.
"Dapat ang oposisyon at ang lahat ng nais na magkaroon ng pagbabago, oposisyon man o hindi, hanapan natin ng paraan na magkaroon ng pagkakaisa," he said.
Apart from Robredo and Diokno, other 1Sambayan nominees include former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Sen. Grace Poe, CIBAC party-list Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva, and Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto.
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