Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi on Thursday floated the possibility that President Duterte can run for a seat in the Senate, confirming they are making efforts to convince the Chief Executive to run under the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban’s (PDP-Laban) senatorial slate in the upcoming May 2022 elections.
Cusi, PDP-Laban president, also said that if Duterte runs for the Senate, he could also act as the campaign manager for their standard bearer Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and his running mate, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go.
“Now, if the President would not run (for Vice President) because he is firm on his decision not to go back on his word, I said why not run for the Senate so he could bring change there? That will be good for the country,” Cusi said in a radio interview.
The President initially accepted the PDP-Laban nomination to run for vice president but later decided to withdraw.
His close ally, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who was initially nominated to be the president by the ruling political party, eventually filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for vice president of the PDP-Laban.
Hours before the end of the filing of the COC last Oct. 8, the PDP-Laban fielded Dela Rosa as their standard bearer.
But should the President change his mind again and decide to run for vice president, Cusi said there would be no problem with the PDP-Laban reverting back to its original plan.
But as things stand, Cusi said PDP-Laban is inclined to support and promote the tandem of Senators Dela Rosa and Go.
“What is good is that we will offer to the public a candidate for President and Vice President who both believe in the program of government that we (the PDP Laban) are pushing and continue the ‘Build, Build, Build’ programs as well as the other programs that President Duterte has started,” the Cabinet official said.