The Lakas-CMD party was swift in thanking PDP-Laban (Cusi wing) for adopting Mayor Sara Duterte as official candidate for vice president of the political party of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“We welcome this development as an opportunity to renew our partnership with PDP-Laban, which has been a steady ally in pushing for social and economic reforms under the Duterte administration,” Lakas-CMD said in a statement released a few hours after PDP-Laban distributed copies of its letter of endorsement for Mayor Duterte.
Lakas-CMD is currently headed by House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez as president and Mayor Duterte as chairperson.
“Mayor Inday Sara has been espousing unity and cohesion for a better Philippines under the BBM-Sara UniTeam alliance that includes Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) of presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos, to which Lakas-CMD has been very supportive,” the party statement said.
It added: “The Lakas-CMD is always open to alliances and partnerships with other parties and political groups which share our ideals and vision for the common good of the country.” Once the most formidable of political parties, PDP-Laban is now divided between the Cusi and Pimentel wings but do not have official party candidates they may call their own.
The Cusi wing headed by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi had originally named Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and President Rodrigo Duterte as its presidential and vice presidential candidates. Both have begged off later.
On the other hand, the Pimentel wing headed by Senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Manny Pacquiao also failed to field their standard bearer.
While party president Pacquiao is indeed running for the highest post this coming May, he filed his candidacy as candidate of revived PROMDI party.