Two Negrenses are among the convenors of 1Sambayan, a coalition of pro-democracy groups around the country, aiming to field a single opposition standard-bearer to challenge President Rodrigo Duterte’s bet in the 2022 presidential elections.
They are former Negros Occidental governor Rafael Coscolluela and former Rep. Neri Colmenares (Bayan Muna).
Lead convenor of the coalition launched Thursday in Makati City is retired Supreme Court associate justice Antonio Carpio.
1Sambayan hopes to galvanize pro-democracy forces into a united opposition for the 2022 elections, Coscolluela told DIGICAST NEGROS Friday, March 19.
“While the immediate goal is to replace the current authoritarian administration with competent, caring and honest national officials who embody our ideals and aspirations, 1Sambayan ultimately seeks to strengthen the ordinary citizens’ ability to elect a government that is accountable to and truly serves the people,” he said.
“1Sambayan gives a voice to Filipinos who have had enough of unkept promises, inept governance, disrespect for the rule of law, violation of basic human rights, undeterred corruption, damaged international relations, humiliating subservience to China, rampant killings and misbehavior at the highest levels of government. If we want a better government, we have to fight for it,” Cocscolluela said.
Coscolluela said 1Sambayan believes It is time to push back because Filipinos deserve better.
Colmenares said 1Sambayan stems from the realization of many that under the current administration there has been so much death and violence, while Filipinos continue to suffer from poverty, corruption, and tyranny.
“This is not the society we want our children to live in…We cannot have another six years of this,” he said.
“Let us work together for a united opposition that will resoundingly defeat President Duterte,” Colmenares added.*