FILE PHOTOS Presidential aspirant Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
MANILA, Philippines — A faction of the ruling party PDP-Laban is not sharing the sentiments of its standard-bearer, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on the possible substitution with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, an official said Friday.
PDP-Laban faction president and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi related how Dela Rosa, who recently met with Duterte-Carpio, “offered” to the Davao city mayor how he’s available for substitution should she decide to run for president, after all.
However, Cusi said this is not the party’s position.
“The good senator even offered na available siya i-substitute ni Mayor Sara in case she will run. ‘Yung sinabi ni Sen. Bato na ‘yun is because si Mayor Sara has been always the front-runner sa mga surveys,” he said in an interview over CNN Philippines.
“Kaya sinasabi na okay din kung magsa-substitute si Mayor Inday but it is not the party position. That is a personal statement or personal offer ni Sen. Bato kay Mayor Inday Sara,” Cusi added.
Dela Rosa has been broaching the idea of Duterte-Carpio substituting him as presidential candidate for the 2022 elections.
Cusi has said that the PDP-Laban faction will maintain its tandem of Dela Rosa and Senator Bong Go for the 2022 elections “unless something happens” between now and November 15.