Duterte offers to campaign for PDP-Laban bets in 2022, bring 'sacks' of money


President Duterte is willing to campaign for the PDP-Laban party mates running for public office in the 2022 elections.

President Rodrigo Duterte attends the National Assembly of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) at Royce Hotel in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga on July 17, 2021. (Malacañang)

Addressing the PDP-Laban national assembly in Clark Saturday, the President said he was prepared to visit every city and province to campaign for the administration candidates. Duterte, chairman of the ruling party, even commented in jest about bringing lots of money in the campaign trail.

Duterte talked about his plans to support the administration bets after recognizing the PDP-Laban party remained "strong as ever" despite reported bickering between warring factions.

"Those running for reelection, ikakampanya ko kayo city por city. Totoo ‘yan (I will campaign for you city per city. That's the truth)," he said.

"Kayong mga nagtatakbo (To those running for office) I will --- I commit to you. Talagang pupunta ako city por city, province por province, kakampanya ko kayo. Pero --- at saka magdala ako ng maraming pera por sako kung mayroon (I will go to city by city, province by province, I will campaign for you and bring lots of money. Sacks of money if there are any)," he said.

For now, the President appealed to the ruling party officials and members to remain focused on the mission to uplift the lives of Filipinos especially amid the challenges arising from the pandemic.

He also advised his party mates "not to be blinded by our own ambitions." He said they should not allow the party to be used to advance personal interest.

Duterte maintained that the PDP-Laban party has grown big especially since he won the presidency in 2016 and has the capacity to compete with other political parties.

The ruling party earlier passed a resolution asking President Duterte to run for vice president in next year’s elections. Duterte said he was seriously thinking about seeking the vice presidency but later admitted it was an idea supposedly to get immunity from lawsuits.