Party Allies Urge President Duterte to Run for Senator
A faction of the PDP-Laban party is convincing President Rodrigo Duterte to run for senator in 2022 because his brand of politics is needed in the chamber, its leader said Wednesday.
Duterte should consider joining the senatorial race if he would no longer change his mind about retiring from politics, Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi said, adding this would also boost the chances of the president's loyal aides running for president and vice president, Senators Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa and Bong Go, respectively.
"Kung talagang hindi tatakbo si Pangulo dahil talagang decided siya na ayaw niyang tumakbo at ayaw niyang sirain ang salita niya, sabi ko, takbo ka na lang ng senador para makapagdala ka ng pagbabago diyan sa Senado. That would be good for the country," Cusi said in a television interview.
While PDP-Laban is inclined to support the Dela Rosa-Go tandem, Cusi said the party could still go back to its original plan should Duterte decide to run for vice president.
"I'm trying to sell the idea for him (Duterte) to run for vice president, sabi ko yung landscape nagbago na, bumalik na tayo sa original plan. Gawin natin si Bong Go the president then the vice president si Pangulo," he said.
If Duterte runs for senator, he will have to be a substitute for one of the senatorial bets of PDP-Laban like what he did when he ran for president in 2016.
Lawmakers have been pushing for a ban on substitution due to withdrawal of the original candidate, saying that it puts the election process in a "mockery."
PDP-Laban maintained that there is nothing wrong with it, as it is a "legal" option that allows parties to decide on their final candidates.
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