MANILA (UPDATE) - Vice President Leni Robredo and Manila City Mayor Franciso "Isko Moreno" Domagoso are the strong contenders in 1Sambayan's selection process aiming for a unified opposition ticket in the 2022 polls, coalition member Loretta Ann "Etta" Rosales said Monday.

Asked during the online forum of 1Sambayan in commemoration of the 49th anniversary Tuesday of the declaration of martial law, Rosales, a former chairman of the Commission on Human Rights, said the group is expected to announce its choice for the presidency within the month.

“It’s also divided. Pero malakas yung mga pro-VPL, Vice President Leni. Pero meron ding Isko na lumalabas d'on. Kaya it’s going to be a matter of days na lang,” Rosales said.

(It’s also divided. But support for Vice President Leni is strong. There are also supporters of Mayor Isko. It's just going to be a matter of days.)

Asked if Senator Manny Pacquiao is also being considered, Rosales said he was still part of the selection process of 1Sambayan.

“Yes, anybody is kasama sa proseso, basta they are willing to dialogue. Nakipag-dialogue na rin si Isko, si Leni. Si Pacquiao is willing to dialogue,” Rosales said.

(Yes, anybody is included in the process if they are willing to dialogue. Isko and Leni talked to us. Pacquiao is willing to dialogue.)

• Seeking to unite political forces for 2022, Robredo says ready for another round vs Marcos

Robredo said Sunday she is ready to run for president if chosen as the bet of a united opposition in the 2022 elections.

She said whoever the opposition will chose to field in 2022, two objectives must be met:

“Yung pagkakandidato ko ba, makakatulong ba siya sa ayaw nating mangyari? Na itong administrasyong ito mag-continue sa 2022? Na si Marcos, bumalik in power? 'Di ba yan ang ayaw nating mangyari?” she said.

(If I run, will it help us avoid what we don't want to happen? For this administration to continue in 2022? For the Marcoses to be back in power? That's what we don't want to happen, right?)

“Ang kinakatakutan ko, alam nating nakikita na natin ngayon na grabe ang korupsyon at the height of the pandemic. Napakadelikado sa bansa na magpatuloy pa ito. Alam natin ang ginawa ni Marcos sa Pilipinas, 'di speculation,” she added.

(What I fear is, we already see corruption at the height of the pandemic. It would be very dangerous if this continues. We know what Marcos did to the Philippines. It's not speculation.)

• Robredo on unification of candidates in 2022 polls: 'Kung ako ang napili, handa ako'

Domagoso, meantime, confirmed reports that he met with Robredo and Pacquiao last week.

“Yes, we had a meeting and Vice-President (Leni) Robredo. So we're trying to reach out to each and everyone. Kasi, ako naman, meron akong tenga lagi na pwedeng makinig eh," said the Manila mayor who transferred last month to Aksyon Demokratiko and was elected as its president.

(I'm always open to listening.)

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“I am not in the liberty to discuss the details, but I can confirm there was a meeting. And hopefully, there’ll be more meetings 'no, na puwede naming mapag-usapan ang mga bagay-bagay (where we can talk about things)."

Meanwhile, during the 1Sambayan's online forum, Rosales addressed the youth and reminded them of the atrocities perpetrated by the Marcos regime as well as her personal experiences when she was arrested by state forces.

• Marcos not a reluctant dictator, Etta Rosales rebuffs Enrile

“Sinakal ako ng belt, until they sexually molested me, yung mga ahente mismo, they go on top you,” Rosales said.

(They choked me with a belt until they sexually molested me. The state agents, they got on top of you.)

The grandson of activists Rey and Cora Casambre echoed calls against historical revisionism as Marcos family members including former Senator Bongbong Marcos are planning to run in the 2022 elections.

• Public urged to reject Enrile, Marcos 'historical revisionism'

Andres Bisenio recalled how his grandparents were arrested over supposedly trumped up charges, not only during the Marcos administration but also the current administration.

“I believe that we should be careful in studying history because right now, we have history classes that barely tell us anything about what happened during martial law, a few words about martial law and that’s it,” Bisenio said.

• Human rights abuses during martial law taught in schools: DepEd

--With a report from Jorge Carino, ABS-CBN News

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