Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban president and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said on Friday, Oct. 29 that he believes President Duterte is “discerning and thinking hard about” the possibility of running for a Senate seat in the upcoming May 2022 elections.
“I believe the President is discerning and thinking hard about it. Because, he knows the sacrifice he has to make,” said Cusi in an interview on CNN Philippines.
But according to Cusi, they are still in the process of trying to convince the Chief Executive to run for the Senate.
“Kasi kung mawawala siya para kaming mapipilayan sa pagtutulak ng mga programa niya (We feel we would be paralyzed if he is no longer part of the team). We thought it wise ...na yung mga experience niya sana sa (that whatever experiences he had in the) executive body, he will bring with him to the legislative body. A leadership that is no nonsense, talagang pure (just) good governance lang,” Cusi said.
“I believe the perspective and the wisdom that he earned as mayor and as chief executive will bring a lot of changes at the Senate, at the legislative body. It’s a way also for us PDP party to advance the program of government that has been started by him in 2016,” he added.
Cusi’s group had earlier nominated Duterte to be the party’s vice presidential candidate but eventually withdrew, with Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go taking his place.
Cusi also rejected Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III’s accusation that they are pushing for “personality politics” in convincing Duterte to run for the Senate.
“What we are pushing ay hindi po personality politics. What we are pushing ay real party politics based on programs,” he said.
“Ang sinasabi lang namin para tumakbo si Pangulo, he will be a very good endorser, siya talaga will give a real leadership. Yung sinasabi nating leadership that is willing to really take all the risks to make things happen. It’s not personality politics,” he emphasized.
Pimentel and Cusi have been at odds against each other with Pimentel’s camp pushing Sen. Manny Pacquiao as the PDP-Laban’s standard bearer. Meanwhile, Cusi’s group is now promoting the presidential bid of Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.