Opposition party exploring alliance with 3 senators, Manila mayor

THE OPPOSITION party has initiated exploratory talks with four prospective candidates seeking to form a coalition for the 2022 elections, a senator said on Tuesday.

Senator Francis N. Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party, said there were “efforts to reach out” to Senators Panfilo M. Lacson, Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay, and Emmanuel Joel M. Villanueva, and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” M. Domagoso.

“Nandiyan si (There is) Senator Lacson, Senator Villanueva, nandiyan si Senator Binay, di ba. Nandiyan si Isko Moreno, of course si vice president (Maria Leonor G. Robredo),” he told an online briefing.

The vice president is the current Liberal Party chair.

“Can you imagine if everyone of those would be united in saying we want a better direction for our country,” he said in Filipino.

The party leader said there is a need for “broader unity” in the upcoming elections, noting that differences should be set aside to build the “broadest coalition possible.”

“We are working towards a broader unity which is critical,” he said.

There is nothing set though, he said, as they only had informal discussions. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas