EP 17: Can 1Sambayan Unite Political Opposition?

Over the weekend, the 1Sambayan coalition announced its nominees for the opposition’s presidential candidate in next year’s election. 

But except for former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who clearly welcomed the nomination, the rest expressed reluctance if not outright lack of interest. 

Is 1Sambayan off to a shaky start? Because how can you unify the opposition when you can’t even get people to consider running for president at least under your banner?

Not only that. This early, the warning signs are clear — if 1Sambayan members hope to successfully counter Duterte’s populist narrative they have to descend from their moral high horse and try to relate better with the people.  

How to do that is perhaps the biggest challenge confronting the opposition in 2022 — an election they cannot afford to lose especially by default.

For the opposition, the issues are clear — the next president should put a stop to all the senseless killings under Duterte’s drug war and put the economy back on track the gut issues. 

Last Monday, the outgoing prosecutor of the International Criminal Court announced she was seeking a formal investigation into the thousands of killings under Duterte. 

It’s a welcome development, a much-awaited one for those looking to hold Duterte accountable once and for all.

Because in a civilized world, one cannot just order cops to kill people even drug users without due process — and get away with it.

This should clearly be a campaign issue. But whether this will be a significant factor when Filipinos pick their next president remains to be seen.

Thus, yet another challenge for anti-Duterte forces. 

This episode discusses what it will take for the opposition to finally come together and rally behind a single presidential candidate in next year’s elections.

Christian Esguerra talks to 1Sambayan Convenor Bro. Armin Luistro and Political Analyst Edna Co.