The opposition said Wednesday it stood to benefit should the animosity between President Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Manny Pacquiao split the PDP-Laban Party.
Should the president and the boxer-turned-senator go their separate ways, it would divide campaign resources, Senate Minority Leader and Liberal Party Vice Chairman Franklin Drilon said.
“It will certainly help kapag nahati ang administration,” Drilon told the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum.
However, the opposition still needs to come up with a common candidate in order to take advantage of the split in the administration’s party. “No one in the opposition has taken yet any concrete steps, maybe it's too early,” he said.
“But once there is a consensus as to who the principal player will be in the opposition, then it is [his or her] role to try to consolidate the ranks of the opposition and that includes having only one common candidate for the opposition,” he added.
Drilon earlier said the Liberal Party would back Vice President Leni Robredo should she decide to run for president next year. The 1Sambayan opposition coalition also nominated the vice president to the same position.
Robredo said that while it was difficult for her to decide on a presidential run given her current resources, she remained "open" to it. Should she decide not to vie for the presidency, Drilon said the Liberal Party would beopen to alliances and discussions with other parties.
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