Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. shares his remarks to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during a meeting with thePRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Four Cabinet members will proceed with their senatorial bids in the 2022 national elections under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) faction headed by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.
Cusi, on Monday morning confirmed that those running for senator are presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar and anti-corruption commission chairperson Greco Belgica.
DPWH Sec. Mark Villar
“Si Secretary Panelo po, tuloy po ang pagtakbo nya, Secretary Villar, then si Greco po, Greco will run, Secretary Roque will also run,” Cusi said in an ABS-CBN News Channel interview.
Other Cabinet members in the Cusi-led PDP-Laban faction’s initial senatorial slate are Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.
Cusi, however, said Bello and Tugade will decide on Monday whether or not to they will run for senator after the President announced his retirement from politics last week.
“We had a long meeting with the President when the President decided not to run. Of course, emotions were running. Talagang ginusto na ng pangulo na umayaw na,” Cusi said.
(We had a long meeting with the President when the President decided not to run. Of course, emotions were running. The President really wanted to withdraw.)
“Nalaman din ni Secretary Tugade and Secretary Bello ito and they’re now assessing whether they are also going to withdraw, not file their candidacy dahil gusto nila kung tatakbo sila, kasama nila si Pangulo. Paguusapan po namin ngayon,” added Cusi.
(Secretary Tugade and Secretary Bello found out about it and they’re now assessing whether they are also going to withdraw, because if they’re running, they want to run with the President. We will discuss it today.)
The filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) is until October 8.
None of the aforementioned Cabinet members have so far filed their COCs.
Meanwhile, Malacañang earlier assured there would be no “leadership vacuum” should Cabinet members vacate their posts to run for elective posts.