DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. LITO TECSON/CEBU DAILY NEWS
MANILA, Philippines—The PDP-Laban will have to have a “heart-to-heart talk” with Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte regarding his supposed links to the vigilante-style killing of suspected criminals in his city if he should become the party’s standard-bearer in 2016.
“Although the party believes in federalism, the party also believes in the inherent dignity of the human being, so [with] the right to life, respect [for] life,” Pimentel said on the sidelines of the party’s 33rd anniversary celebration at Puerta Real Gardens in Intramuros on Saturday.
Pimentel said the party will ask Duterte to clarify his supposed involvement in extrajudicial killings in Davao City on the assumption that politicians sometimes “intentionally perpetuate urban legends.”
Federalism
Pimentel said Duterte could become the “face of federalism,” which is espoused by the party as the answer to the problem in Mindanao.
The tough-talking mayor, however, has not been formally named PDP-Laban’s presidential candidate in 2016.
“It will have to go through the party process but he has very strong support within members of the party,” Pimentel said.
“PDP was born in Mindanao and we have a prominent Mindanao personality who is now being talked about as a possible presidential candidate. So we are welcoming, hosting and entertaining Mayor Duterte while he is here in Metro Manila,” Pimentel said.
“Federalism is an idea whose time has come. PDP-Laban used to be the face of federalism but we’re willing to give that to Mayor Duterte,” he said.
In an interview with reporters on his arrival in Manila, Duterte said he had not yet come to terms with himself regarding the presidency.
“I’m just here to join the celebration and talk about federalism, which is the key to the problem in Mindanao,” he said.
Pressed for answer on his possible presidential candidacy, he said in Filipino, “I am not on that track yet.”
“As former Sen. Nene Pimentel said, the presidency is not merchandise that you can pick up and, suddenly, you’re a viable candidate,” Duterte said.
But he’s not resisting. “I’ll keep an open mind,” he said.
“It’s not that simple. I have to ask myself, can I do it? I’m old and I have no money. I’ve served government for 30 years—22 years as Davao mayor—maybe that’s enough,” he said.