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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider PDP-Laban exec says party is still 'dominant' despite Duterte, Go's withdrawal; here's why

PDP-Laban exec says party is still 'dominant' despite Duterte, Go's withdrawal; here's why

Published Dec 15, 2021 07:18 pm

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles claimed that the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) remains "a force to be reckoned with" despite the backing out of its two most prominent figures from their respective bids in the May 2022 elections.

Senator Bong Go (left) and President Rodrigo Duterte (Malacañang photo)

Withdrawing from their poll bids on Tuesday, Dec. 14 were PDP-Laban chairman, President Duterte; and his most trusted lieutenant, Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go.

"PDP-Laban will continue to be a force to be reckoned with because PDP-Laban will continue to be the dominant political party for the 2022 national and local elections provided by law. Siya pa rin po ang (It remains the) dominant political party," Nograles, the acting presidential spokesperson, said during a virtual press conference Wednesday, Dec. 15. He is also PDP-Laban's executive vice president.

In separate instances Tuesday, Duterte withdrew his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator, while Go did the same for his COC for president. This means that the two will no longer be vying for elective posts in the 2022 polls.

While Go technically left PDP-Laban and joined the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) before filing his presidential bid last month, the two parties are viewed by pundits as being joined at the hip.

Asked during the presser if he thinks Duterte and Go's withdrawals show a weakness on the part of PDP-Laban, Nograles didn't agree. Instead, he pointed to the factors that he believes make the party formidable.

"Well, titingnan na lang natin iyong (we just need to look at the) composition ng PDP-Laban even in the local level, province, city, municipality level, even district level. Marami, karamihan ng mga miyembro ng PDP at nag-file under (Many, even most of the PDP members who filed their candidacies under) PDP are incumbents, are second-termer, third-termers, comebackers even.

"So, mabibigat na mga public officials ang tumatakbo under PDP-Laban kaya (the public officials running under PDP-Laban are heavyweights, that's why) PDP-Laban will continue to play a big part as the dominant political party for 2022 national and local elections," Nograles said.

Nograles said Tuesday that President Duterte's decision to withdraw ties in with the latter's desire to retire from politics after the end of his term on June 30, 2022.

PDP-Laban is now in the strange position of having no standard-bearer for the upcoming elections, despite being the ruling party and having a popular president to boot.

Related Tags

President Duterte may 2022 PDDS Karlo Nograles COC Elections 2022 POLLS withdrawal Christopher lawrence bong go force to be reckoned with dominant formidable backing out withdrew PDP-Laban
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