The ruling Partido Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP)-Laban on Monday, May 31 adopted a resolution seeking to “convince” President Duterte to run for vice president in the upcoming May 2022 elections.
The resolution was adopted during the party’s national council meeting in Cebu City. It was Raul Lambino, PDP-Laban VP for external affairs, who moved for the adoption of the resolution.
According to Lambino, the party received several petitions from different local government units (LGUs) who are pushing for Duterte to run for the second top government post in next year’s polls.
The same resolution also pushes Duterte, the party’s national chairman, to choose his running mate for president.
It was Duterte who earlier directed Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, the PDP-Laban’s vice chair, “to organize, convene and preside” over the national council meeting, according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
Roque said the move “is part of the democratic exercise” and aims to consult the party’s members and “have a fruitful and productive exchanges on issues affecting PDP-Laban.”
Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, who has been coy about his presidential bid for the May 2022 elections, had earlier issued a memorandum asking members of the PDP-Laban to ignore Cusi’s invitation for a meeting.
Pacquiao, who is the acting president of the party, regarded Cusi’s meeting as illegitimate.
The senator’s camp said they would try to meet with Duterte to discuss the party’s stand “before the filing of the candidacies or earlier if the chairman wishes.”
Earlier in the day, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he is considering running for vice president in the May 2022 elections.