Mayor Sara is ‘more PDP’ than Pacquiao, says Cusi

Senator Manny Pacquiao and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines — Expelled PDP-Laban vice chairman Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi raised the possibility of the ruling party endorsing Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for president in 2022, saying she is “more PDP” than Senator Manny Pacquiao, another prospective presidential bet for the coming polls.

“Si Manny Pacquiao, ‘di pa po nakatakbo [under] PDP, na ginamit ang CONA (Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance) ng PDP. Kung sasabihin na who is more PDP? Si Mayor Inday is more PDP kasi she ran for PDP when she ran for mayor,” Cusi told ABS-CBN News Channel on Tuesday.

(Manny Pacquiao, he has not run yet under PDP, using the party’s CONA. If we were to ask who’s more PDP? Mayor Inday is more PDP because she ran under PDP when she ran for mayor.)

When asked if PDP-Laban will endorse the Davao mayor for the presidential race in 2022, Cusi said it was possible, subject to the proper process.

“There is a process if we are going to endorse a candidate there is a process on that. Whether you are a member of PDP or an outsider…It is possible but it has to go through a process in accordance with the constitution and bylaws of the party,” he said.

Last week, the Davao mayor said she is open to running for the position following months of maintaining that she does not want to run for higher office in 2022.

“Si Mayor Inday, she was a PDP. Itong mga Duterte, three generations na po ‘yang PDP…They are all PDP until nagkaroon nga po nitong Hugpong [ng Pagbabago (HNP)],” Cusi went on, referring to the regional party formed by Duterte-Carpio.

(Mayor Inday ran for PDP. The Dutertes, three generations were all PDP until Hugpong was formed.)

Cusi, however, denied that he and his group are trying to push an outsider presidential candidate for 2022, as suspected by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, the party’s executive vice chairman.

“They are claiming we are preparing for an outsider candidate, there’s no basis for that,” he said.

The tension within the party escalated after Cusi and two other officials were expelled from PDP-Laban for allegedly violating provisions of the party’s constitution.

Cusi had previously called for a national assembly on May 31, despite Pacquiao’s opposition. Pacquiao serves as the acting president of the party.

JPV