Senator Bong Go and President Rodrigo Duterte have been “endorsed” as candidates of the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) for the 2022 national elections.
MANILA, Philippines — The tandem of Senator Bong Go and President Rodrigo Duterte has been “endorsed” by the Cusi-led Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) for the 2022 national elections.
PDP-Laban Secretary General Melvin Matibag told INQUIRER.net that Go and Duterte were picked as the presidential and vice presidential candidates, respectively, of PDP-Laban during the online meeting of the national executive council and officers on August 4, Wednesday.
Matibag said an official nomination—and a vote—will happen during the party’s national convention on September 8, a day that the party official dubbed as an “excited day.”
“There was an endorsement that they undergo the process of nomination during the national convention on September 8. It was unanimous—every member of the national executive committee and its officers,” Matibag said in a phone interview.
“There was already an endorsement that the tandem of Go and Duterte be subjected to the national convention on September 8,” he added.
Matibag said the endorsement was among the three resolutions passed by the national executive council and officers during the online meeting, adding that “everybody was ecstatic and everybody was excited” when the endorsement was made.
“Nagpalakpakan talaga. Parang naghihintayan lang talaga ng mangyayari,” Matibag said.
(They really applauded. They seemed to be waiting for something to happen.)
Matibag said both Go and Duterte have yet to make a final decision on whether on not they would run as the party’s candidates for the 2022 elections.
“Ipapaabot ng party president namin sa Manila, then let’s see kung anong sabihin nila. Maybe, they will also wait for September 8,” Matibag said.
(Our party president in Manila will relay this information, then let’s see what their response will be.)
Go has said in February this year that he should be “counted out” in election talks, particularly on seeking a higher post in the 2022 elections.
READ: Count me out for higher post in 2022 polls — Bong Go
Meanwhile, Duterte, on numerous occasions, has expressed his openness to run for the vice presidential post.
In July, Duterte said he is “somewhat sold on the idea” of a vice presidential run, but added that his future successor should be a “friend” that he can work with, specifically mentioning Go’s name.
Nonetheless, Duterte has yet to decide with finality his next move for the 2022 elections.
READ: Duterte now ‘somewhat sold on idea’ of VP run
The endorsement was made amid the infighting between the members of the party, which has led to two factions forming—one led by Senator Manny Pacquiao and Senator Koko Pimentel and another led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.
It came to a point where Pacquiao was “ousted” as party president, with Cusi elected as his replacement.
The camp of Pacquiao and Pimentel have yet to comment on Go and Duterte’s endorsement.