Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — After Senator Bong Go withdrew his presidential bid, the Cusi-wing of the ruling PDP-Laban party said it will be supporting the “best and most qualified” candidate who is aligned with the PDP-Laban’s mission.
In an advisory addressed to the members of PDP-Laban dated December 1, Secretary General Melvin Matibag said the party “remains steadfast and is committed to support and campaign for all its candidates.”
“We at PDP-Laban will continue to advocate a strong party-based politics and calls on all its members to remain true and loyal to the objectives and aspirations of the party,” Matibag said.
“We shall support the best and most qualified candidates who are aligned with our mission to fight drugs, corruption, terrorism, criminality, poverty, and the establishment of a federal form of government,” he added.
Further, Matibag said: “We will endorse candidates for national positions that will embody the PDP-Laban principles of theism, humanism, enlightened nationalism, democratic socialism, consultative and participatory democracy.”
Go announced he is quitting his presidential bid on Tuesday, saying he does not want President Rodrigo Duterte trapped in the middle ahead of the 2022 national elections.
Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, who serves as the president of the PDP-Laban faction backing Go’s presidential bid, 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.
READ: Nograles: No more substitution, only possible adoption for PDP-Laban standard bearers