The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has started releasing Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance (CONAs) to its candidates for the 2022 national and local elections.
Melvin Matibag, secretary-general of the Cusi-led group in the party, on Saturday, September 18, shared to media that they began distributing CONAs for their candidates.
“As we have promised our party mates during our national convention on September 8 in Pampanga, we will be processing their CONA as soon as possible to enable them to file their certificate of candidacy (COC) within the deadline specified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec),” Matibag said in a statement.
The Comelec will accept COCs starting October 1 until October 8.
The CONA is document to be submitted by candidates who are claiming nomination from a political party. Without a CONA, a candidate will be considered independent.
Cusi's group earlier proclaimed Senator Christopher "Bong" Go and President Duterte as their presidential and vice presidential bets for 2022.
Duterte has accepted his party mates' nomination, while Go declined.
The PDP-Laban faction also named their candidates for the senatorial race, which include Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, Transportation Sec. Arthur Tugade, and Leyte Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez.
While belonging in other political parties, the group also endorsed the senatorial bids of Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission chair Greco Belgica, and SAGIP Party List Rep. Rodante Marcoleta.
The PDP-Laban wing led by Senator Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao, on the other hand, has yet to announce their candidates, although it is expected to support the boxing senator's possible bid for presidency.
Pacquiao's group will hold its own national assembly on Sunday, Sept. 19.
Last September 7, Cusi's group filed a petition at the Comelec to declare Pacquiao's faction as “illegitimate.”