Diokno needs stronger support to win his second听try听for the Senate听
STRONGER SUPPORT听from various sectors听would be needed for听opposition candidates such as听human rights lawyer Jose Manuel听鈥淐hel鈥澨齀. Diokno to win a Senate seat in the 2022 national elections, according to a political scientist.听听听
鈥淚n 2019, compared with other Otso Diretso candidates, he has made some headway with some millennials through social media. He needs to have a stronger civil society and youth voters’ support this time,鈥澨齭aid Maria Ela L. Atienza, a political science professor at the University of the Philippines.听听听听
Mr. Diokno confirmed his 2022 senatorial run as an independent candidate in an interview with One News鈥櫶The Chiefs听on Sept. 14, saying that the political landscape has changed since his first run in the 2019 midterm elections with other opposition candidates as part of the Otso听Diretso听team.听听
Mr. Diokno currently serves as chair of the Free Legal Assistance Group, an organization听of human rights lawyers that represent activists, urban poor, and journalists, among others.听听听听
鈥淚f the genuine opposition can field a complete ticket… that balances principles and stronger presence with more resources and grassroots support, Mr. Diokno will have higher chances,鈥澨齅s. Atienza said in a Viber message.听听
She added that the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on national politics along with conflict between factions of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino鈥揕akas ng Bayan (PDP-LABAN) party could open up an opportunity for Mr. Diokno.听听
However, Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco, a senior research fellow at the Ateneo de Manila University Policy Center, said that Mr. Diokno will have to differentiate himself from a听鈥渃rowded鈥澨齠ield of re-electionists and traditional politicians running next year.听听
He also said that voters can still听鈥渢une out candidates who offer nothing but criticism鈥澨齞espite Filipinos being more vocal about their opinions on the government.听鈥淚 think he should run on a simple and coherent legislative agenda, one that can be easily understood by voters,鈥澨齅r.听Yusingco听said.听听
Mr. Diokno said that his platform will not only focus on strengthening the justice system but also addressing immediate matters on the government鈥檚 pandemic response such as delivery of health services, assisting badly-hit small to medium enterprises, and the right to accessible education.听鈥斕齊ussell Louis C. Ku听
