The opposition Liberal Party is leaving the door open to forging a multi-party alliance in preparation for the upcoming national elections in case Vice President Leni Robredo eventually agrees to join the upcoming presidential derby.
“If VP Robredo decides to run for president, the convention will be a formality because there is a consensus that the VP should be our presidential candidate,” Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon said.
Fielding questions at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, Drilon also cited reports that the ruling PDP Laban is “being split into two factions” between its party president, Sen. Koko Pimentel and Sen. Emmanuel Pacquiao.
“The [PDP Laban] party in power [that fielded President Duterte] is being split into two,” Drilon noted. “How this would affect the 2022 elections will be a matter that will be discussed in coffee shops and the media in the next several weeks.”
Saying he expects Pacquiao “would be removed as party president,” Drilon said that “the signal is that the President told Secretary Alfonso Cusi to go ahead and convene the party in Cebu.”
Still, the Senate Minority Leader expects this “will not harm the opposition,” noting that if the administration party is divided, given all the resources, given the troll farms, given the resources that they have, certainly a split will help the opposition.”
At the same time, Drilon left the door of the LP open for Pacquiao, saying “the increase in the membership of the LP, or any political party for that matter, is a natural consequence of an election.”