President Rodrigo Duterte has formally accepted the endorsement of a faction of PDP-Laban for him to run for vice president in the 2022 elections, Cabinet Sec. Karlo Nograles said Tuesday.
Nograles, who serves as PDP-Laban executive vice president, said Duterte accepted the party's endorsement after being presented with the appeal of its members for continuity.
"President Rodrigo Roa Duterte agreed to make the sacrifice and heed the clamor of the people, and accepted the endorsement of the PDP-Laban party for him to run as vice president in the 2022 National Elections," he said in a statement.
The PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi in May adopted a resolution urging Duterte to run for vice president and choose his potential running mate, but this has raised concerns about circumventing the law since there is no prohibition in the Constitution on the matter.
The President is barred from reelection but should Duterte win the vice presidency, he would be first in the line of succession.
Duterte has repeatedly teased about running for vice president in the past, saying that it would supposedly even make him immune from suit.
Apart from announcing that Duterte has accepted PDP-Laban's bid for him to run for vice president, Nograles also disclosed the names who will be part of the party's initial senatorial slate.
They include House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta, DICT Sec. Gringo Honasan, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, DOTr Sec. Arthur Tugade, and DPWH Sec. Mark Villar.
Matters related to the plans of PDP-Laban for the 2022 elections will be discussed in the party's national convention on Sept. 8, Nograles added.
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