‘Di na dapat pini-pressure,’ Pimentel says on Duterte’s VP run

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, PDP-Laban executive chair Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel and Senator Bong Go. JOEY DALUMPINES/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The ruling PDP-Laban should not “pressure” President Rodrigo Duterte to run for vice president in 2022 when he has repeatedly said he has no plans for politics after he’s done with his term in office, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel said on Wednesday.

Pimentel,  the party’s executive vice-chair, recalled that Duterte had told him before that he has no political plans since he has already been elected to the highest office in the land.

“Siguro marami akong mga partymates na hindi nila masyadong nakakausap si President Duterte,”  he said in an interview when asked about his party mates’ push for Duterte’s vice presidential bid.

(Maybe  many of our partymates were unable to talk to President Duterte.)

“Kasi ako kami noong time na marami pa kaming interaction lalo na noong time na  Senate president ako, ang naririnig ko kasi sa kanya e…sabi nya pagkatapos nitong term ko, wala na akong political plans, or political ambition. Narating ko na yung pinakamataas na political office in the Republic of the Philippines.….”

(Because we had several interactions throughout my tenure as Senate president, I frequently overheard him say: I have no political goals or ambitions after my term. I have already attained the highest political office in the Philippines.)

“If they also want to give him, to the desire of the person and follow the wishes of the person,  hindi na dapat pini-pressure ng ganyan kasi tapos na nga ang term nung tao ipapa-involve mo pa ulit sa pulitika.  E sinasabi  nya  na hindi na nga  sya mag i-involve sa pultiika e. No more politics for me, sabi nya,”  the senator said.

(As for allowing him to express his wishes, there should be no such pressure because his tenure is up and he should not be involved in politics again.)

But last month, the party’s National Council met and adopted a resolution, urging Duterte to run for vice president next year.

READ: PDP-Laban adopts reso to ‘convince’ Duterte to run for VP in 2022 polls

The meeting led by the party’s vice chairman and Energy chief Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi was questioned by some of its leaders and members, including its party president, Senator Manny Pacquiao.

Pacquiao even issued a memorandum circular, advising his partymates to ignore Cusi’s invite, saying the meeting was not sanctioned by the “authorized” National Council” and violated the party’s own constitution.

READ: Ignore Cusi’s call for nat’l assembly, Pacquiao urges PDP-Laban members

Pimentel was also conspicuously absent from the meeting.

READ: ‘Bato,’ Tolentino ignore Pacquiao boycott call, attend PDP-Laban nat’l assembly via Zoom

abc