Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — “Life must go on” for the PDP-Laban party following the decision of Senator Bong Go to withdraw his presidential bid, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said Wednesday.
Cusi, who serves as the president of one of the factions in PDP-Laban, said that the party respects the decision of Go, maintaining that the party was “correct” in endorsing the presidential bid of the senator.
“The party was correct in endorsing Senator Bong Go. And we thank President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Senator Bong Go for providing the guidance and the strength to move forward,” Cusi said in a statement.
“Whatever reasons Senator Go had in announcing his withdrawal, we respect and honor his resolve and greatly appreciate his intentions behind them: to ensure the country’s welfare. However, ‘life must go on’, the party needs to move forward regardless of the prevailing circumstances,” he added.
Cusi likewise maintained that the “party is destined to win” and that PDP-Laban remains as the “ruling party.”
For now, Cusi said that party leaders will consult with its members for their next step.
“PDP-Laban basic principles will lead the party in determining the rightful candidate to support because after all, it is not a personality we support, but an opportunity given to someone who will hold the country’s future in his hands,” Cusi said.
“As has been the process, we will consult the party members and our constituents as to our next step and will soon come up with a decision,” he added.
Earlier in the day, acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles, who also serves as the executive vice president of Cusi-led PDP-Laban wing, said that the only option the party has is to adopt a candidate as it can no longer substitute Go.