President Rodrigo Roa Duterte discusses matters with Senator Christopher Lawrence Go during the meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on September 2, 2021. (ARMAN BAYLON/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — A faction of the ruling party PDP-Laban is still exploring the option of fielding a Sen. Bong Go-President Rodrigo Duterte tandem in the 2022 elections, days before the period of substitution deadline on November 15.
The Duterte – backed PDP-Laban Cusi wing on Friday said it is monitoring the developments in the national political landscape and is consulting its leaders in provinces and cities.
“We continue to monitor the developments in the national political landscape and we are exploring all options as the dominant majority party, including our original plan of fielding a Go-Duterte tandem,” PDP-Laban Secretary General Melvin Matibag said in a statement.
“In the meantime, we continue to consult PDP leaders in the provinces and cities so our ultimate decision will be reflective of the sentiments on the ground,” he added.
The political group has so far fielded Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa as its presidential candidate with Senator Bong Go as his running mate.
However, it was the original plan of the party to field Go as its standard bearer, with Duterte as his running mate.
But Duterte has announced his intention to retire from politics upon the end of his term in 2022.
The party later said Duterteis being convinced to run for a Senate seat instead.
Go, meantime, previously hinted at possible changes on his vice presidential bid in the coming days.
The PDP-Laban statement was issued after presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s major political moves.
Despite declaring her intention to seek reelection as Davao City mayor in 2022, even going so far as filing her certificate of candidacy for the post, Duterte-Carpio dropped her mayoral bid by withdrawing her COC.
She then resigned from her regional party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), where she is the chairperson and founder, and took her oath as a member of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party of former president Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo.
She has yet to announce whether or not she will run for a national position in the 2022 elections.