The PDP-Laban faction headed by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi is sure that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte will not run for president under their party.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News, while “anything is possible’ at this time, Cusi said that there is no chance that Sara will replace their standard bearer Senator Bato Dela Rosa.
“Yung kay Mayor Inday Sara substituting Bato, that is something na hindi namin na-consider because very clear naman ang statement ni Mayor Inday na hindi siya tatakbo under PDP. So kung hindi siya, paano namin isa-substitute yun?” Cusi said.
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Cusi also explained why Bato was chosen as PDP-Laban bet for president and Senator Bong Go as VP.
“Nung hindi po nangyari yun and the President said ‘I’m not going to run anymore,’ we made an adjustment in the party because we cannot be orphaned na wala kaming kandidato na presidente saka vice-president. Ang pinakamabilis nun, pinag-file na po si Sen. Bong Go for vice-president,” said Cusi.
“During that time, even before naman na nag-uusap kami, iniisip namin who are the possible candidates—everybody’s a possible candidate, puwedeng tumakbo. At that time, nandun po si Sen. Bato at sabi natin, may advocacy rin ito, so yun ang napagkasunduan ng partido, na i-field siya para magtakbong presidente,” he said.
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Cusi said that Bato is qualified to run for their party because he is aligned with their principles.
“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. Yun ang hinahanap namin sa presidente (That’s what we look for in a president). It’s not the question of winning; it’s a question of being able to do the service, make the change, deliver the aspiration of the Filipinos,” he said. (TDT)
