PDP-Laban to push Duterte bid for presidency

Senator Koko Pimentel (left) and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

There is no backing out for Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) said it was ready to push his presidential bid, said Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel on Monday.

“Yung narinig ng tenga ko, 100 percent nang tatakbo (si Duterte). As far as I’m concerned, wala na pong atrasan,” said Pimentel, PDP-Laban president.

The senator said the PDP-Laban already signed a new certificate of nomination for Duterte which he would file at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to substitute for party member Martin Diño.

Diño earlier filed his certificate of candidacy for president but withdrew it.

The substitution for a candidate is allowed only until December 10.

Pimentel could not say, however, when Duterte would go to the Comelec to file the certificate of nomination.

“Sa timetable, I can’t say anything. Judging from the historical record of Mayor Duterte, he used to file his certificate of candidacy (COC) for mayor in a low profile manner, walang motorcade, walang mga parade…, so hindi ko masagot, maybe we will just all be surprised na naka-file na pala,” he said.

Told that Duterte could not substitute for Diño since the latter’s COC showed that he was running for mayor of Pasay City, the senator said it was just a “clerical error” since the Comelec itself listed him as a presidential candidate.

“Merong clerical error but actually sa point of view ng Comelec, he is a presidential candidate. Nakalista sya as presidential candidate, merong effort ang legal department to declare him a nuisance candidate for president, that has been overcome, that minor clerical error has been overcome by the Comelec’s own actions,” he pointed out.

Pimentel said the party also has no problem with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano if Duterte chooses him as his running mate.

Asked if the party would also field a senatorial ticket, Pimentel said they had no choice but to choose from those who already filed COCs for senator.