The Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) party led by the faction of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has welcomed President Duterte’s acceptance of his nomination as the party’s vice presidential candidate in next year’s polls.
In a statement, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the President has “agreed to make the sacrifice and heed the clamor of the people, and accepted the endorsement of the PDP-Laban Party for him to run for vice president in the 2022 national elections.”
Nograles said the President practically responded to the party’s regional, provincial and barangay level councils’ call for a transition of leadership that would guarantee continuity of the administration’s programs during the past five years.
“This includes battles against terrorism, insurgency, corruption and poverty and the scourge of illegal drugs; the successful implementation of the Build-Build-Build Program and the 10-point socio-economic agenda,” the official said.
“And to ensure that the country’s COVID-19 vaccination program will be sustained in the critical stage of the pandemic where targets are steadily achieved,” he further stressed.
Nograles said the matter of the President’s decision will be taken up at the PDP-Laban national convention that would be held on September 8, at San Jose Del Monte Convention Center in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
He also said they will take up House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gregorio Honasan II, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar’s inclusion in the PDP-Laban’s initial senatorial slate.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque earlier announced that Duterte has accepted the endorsement of his partymates. Duterte is chairman of the PDP-Laban party.
Sought for comment, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said he is still not interested to run for president.
Go earlier said he would only accept the nomination to be the PDP-Laban’s standard-bearer in the upcoming polls if Duterte accepts his nomination as the party’s vice presidential candidate.
“I am still not interested. Nakatutok ako sa aking tungkulin bilang Senador upang tulungan ang bansa na malampasan ang krisis na ating hinaharap (I am focused on my work as a senator to help our nation overcome the current crisis),” Go said.
“Bakuna muna bago pulitika. Mas mabuti unahin niyo na muna yung mga interesado na tumakbong Pangulo. (Vaccine first before politics. It would be better if you first talk to those interested to run for president),” the senator told his partymates.