UniTeam vice presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is grateful for the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) Cusi wing’s endorsement of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s presidential bid.
The Cusi wing of PDP-Laban, led by Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi declared their support for Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, March 22, through Resolution No. 26, Series of 2022.
"Appreciative ang UniTeam sa endorsement ng PDP-Laban kay Apo BBM (The UniTeam is appreciative of PDP-Laban's endorsement of Bongbong Marcos)," Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) Chairperson Duterte said in an ambush interview with reporters in Dasmariñas, Cavite on March 22.
PDP-Laban is considered the ruling party of the country given President Duterte's status as party chairman. President Duterte is the lady mayor's father.
The Cusi faction also previously adopted the younger Duterte as its vice presidential candidate last Jan. 21.
For his part, Marcos Jr. was also grateful for the ruling party’s endorsement, calling it an important step in furthering his flagship “platform” of unity.
This notwithstanding, Mayor Duterte said that she was unsure if her father had a say the endorsement of her fellow UniTeam meme.
"I cannot speak for the President, I do not know what he’s thinking right now...I do not know what was discussed but I only knew of the agreement that PDP-Laban will endorse the presidency of BBM," she explained.
Meanwhile, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar also said on Tuesday that there has been no confirmation of President Duterte’s support in the party endorsement of Marcos.
“The President himself has not given any statement on the issue or if he is not supporting this or that president... Ito ay malinaw na desisyon ng partido, pero hindi malinaw kung ito rin ang gusto ni Pangulong Duterte (This is a clear decision of the party but it is not clear if this is also what President Duterte wants),” Andanar told reporters.
The PDP-Laban was founded in 1982 as a counter to the administration of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., father of Palace hopeful Marcos Jr. The party is currently split into two factions; one wing led by Cusi, and the other led by presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao.
The younger Duterte is gunning for the vice presidency alongside presidential bet Marcos Jr. The two comprise the UniTeam.