PHILIPPINES— Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has been clear that she would not run under the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban), Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said on Wednesday.
Cusi, who leads one faction of the PDP-Laban party, said that while they acknowledge that “anything is possible at this time,” the daughter of President Duterte has been firm on her stance.
That is why Duterte-Carpio substituting Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa is something they won’t consider .
“Because Mayor Inday’s Sara’s statement has been very clear that she will not run under the PDP. If she won’t, how will be substitute that?” Cusi said in an interview on ANC Headstart.
Duterte-Carpio has been rumored to substitute Dela Rosa, who was chosen by the party as their standard-bearer in a last-minute attempt during the last day of the filing of the certificate of candidacy (COC) last October 8.
PDP-Laban had to make adjustments after their original plan to field the President as their vice presidential candidate, and Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go as their presidential candidate did not materialize.
Instead, Go was fielded as PDP-Laban’s vice presidential, while Dela Rosa will be their standard bearer.
Cusi explained that when Duterte decided not to run anymore, they had to act fast. The fastest route, he said, is to make Go their vice president.
The Cabinet official also said that when they were discussing who their presidential bet is, Dela Rosa was also one of the potential candidates that came to mind.
“At that time, Sen. Bato was there and we said he also had an advocacy so the party agreed to field him to run for president,” he stressed.
“Why did we put Sen. Bato? It’s because he has that advocacy, he supports the program of the president so he can advance the party’s program. That is what we are looking for in a president,” Cusi reiterated.
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