Robredo willing to unite, lead opposition coalition

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo said she is willing to unite opposition groups and take on the role as the movement’s leader.

Robredo, in a media briefing Tuesday, said that several opposition groups have sought her leadership.

“I have long since taken the role of [opposition leader]… Now there were initiatives of various groups to unite and they asked if I can lead. I said yes, but terms have to be discussed,” she said in Filipino.

Robredo, who is from the former administration Liberal Party, said it is her duty to unite the different voices in the prospective opposition coalition.

Although there are vocal critics of the government within the Liberal Party, the party also has members in the majority blocs at the House and the Senate. 

“There are groups opposing the same issues but since they don’t coordinate with one another, the voices are not united. That’s the role that I want to take: to make sure that the voices will become one so they will be listened to more. I want to ensure that the message they convey will be more understood,” she said in Filipino.

It is unclear whether the propsective Robredo-led opposition coalition will include national democratic activist groups like Bagong Alyansang Makabayan. Bayan and its affiiliated groups were among the most critical of the LP-led Aquino administration.

The vice president has been critical of the policies and pronouncements of President Rodrigo Duterte. Recently, she said discussion on the proposed shift to a federal form of government should not be rushed and should not overshadow other pressing issues that affect Filipinos such as the rising prices of commodities and spate of killings.

READ: Talk on federalism? Focus on rising prices, killings instead — Robredo

Robredo hopes the united opposition slate will be formed by September, one month before the filing of certificates of candidacy in October.

She added that former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is still undecided whether to join the slate or not.

Last May, Sen. Francis Pangilinan —Liberal Party president — named Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Rep. Gary Alejano (Magdalo party-list ), former Rep. Barry Gutierrez (Akbayan party-list), LP Vice President for External Affairs Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada and De La Salle University College of Law Dean Jose Manuel Diokno as potential candidates of the coalition that will be the “genuine opposition” in the 2019 midterm polls.

READ: Alejano, Agot Isidro among possible candidates of ‘Resistance’ coalition