WAITING GAME. Presidential hopeful Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos is still hopeful of President Rodrigo Duterte’s endorsement. File photo
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte met with presidential hopeful Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. a few days before the administration party PDP-Laban openly endorsed his candidacy with just a little over a month before the May 9 elections.
The meeting was confirmed by longtime Duterte aide, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who was present during the meeting held last Sunday, March 20.
Go, who withdrew his own presidential bid last year, said the meeting between Duterte and Marcos was “productive,” with the Chief Executive sharing his experiences and giving advice on the presidency.
“Maganda naman po ang resulta ng meeting. Medyo matagal-tagal nga ‘yon at talagang ganado ‘yung Pangulo na magkuwento. I think about 80 percent ng discussion ay more on si Presidente po ang nagsasalita,” Go said in an interview on Wednesday.
(The meeting had a good result. It lasted for a while and the President was enthusiastic to share his exprience. I think about 80 percent of the discussion was President Duterte talking.)
“Nagbigay siya ng mga kaunting payo, mga ginawa niya para sa ating bayan ay sana po’y ipagpatuloy ng kung sino man po ‘yong magiging susunod na Pangulo,” he added.
(President Duterte gave some advice and hopes that his initiatives will be continued by whoever is the next president.)
The meeting took place even though Duterte had called him a weak leader, and that he had made a preference for a lawyer just like him.
Party decision
The meeting happened before the PDP-Laban wing, headed by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and chaired by President Duterte, announced that it is endorsing Marcos’ presidential bid.
Go said the meeting with Duterte was one of the factors that led to the PDP-Laban wing endorsement, aside from the various talks and consultations among its members.
“Malamang ‘yon po ang naging isa sa naging dahilan, pero dumaan po ‘yon sa konsultasyon at proseso (Perhaps that is one of the reasons but it went through various consultations and processes),” Go said.
“It’s a party decision po. So, ibig sabihin dumaan sa proseso, pinag-usapan, nagkonsultasyon sa iba’t ibang miyembro ng PDP at majority ang nakapag-decide kung sino po ‘yung ina-adopt at susuportahan,” he added.
(It’s a party decision so this means it went through a process. It was discussed and consulted with the different PDP-Laban members and it majority decided who the party will support.)
Go expressed hopes that there will be unity within PDP-Laban in terms of endorsing candidates in the upcoming elections.
“Being a member po ng PDP ay sana iisa po ang magiging direksyon ng lahat ng miyembro ng partido (As a member of PDP, hopefully all members will be in one direction),” Go said.
Presidential candidate and senator Manny Pacquiao, who heads the other faction in PDP-Laban, earlier called “trapo” (traditional politician) and stupid the members of the party who are supporting the candidacy of Marcos.
Pacquiao said PDP-Laban members should rethink their decision of supporting Marcos Jr. because the political party was established in 1982 to oppose the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.