Duterte-Cayetano tandem not ‘binding,’ says PDP-Laban exec

By: Maila Ager - 9 years ago

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s alliance with Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano is not “binding” as far as the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) is concerned, according to a party leader.

“Hindi pa binding ’yun, but of course kung talagang si Alan Peter ang napupusuan ni Mayor Duterte as his running mate, napakabigat po noon,” Sen. Aqulino “Koko” Pimentel III, president of PDP-Laban, said in an interview at the Senate on Thursday.

“Pag sinabihan nya talaga kami formally nung ganun, I believe the entire party membership will fall in line,” he said.

READ: Pimentel for Duterte, not for Bongbong

But what if Duterte preferred another vice presidential bet, like Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.? “Kung si Marcos ang sabihin nya, we’ll have to debate it,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel earlier expressed his reservations for Marcos, son and namesake of the late dictator, noting the party was “borne out as a reaction to martial law and fighting civil liberties.”

“Marami kasing party members are still aware of the party history, the background of the party. Ano ang pinaglaban namin at ano ang pinaglalaban pa rin namin hanggang ngayon, so there will be a lively debate,” he said.

READ: Bongbong Marcos: Coalition with Duterte still possible

“But again, uulitin ko, the personal preference of the standard-bearer carries a lot of weight kasi syempre dapat kampante sya sa kampanya nya, dapat convenient, hindi pabigat yung kanyang running mate.”

Would he oppose if Duterte picked Marcos? Pimentel said he would wait for the mayor’s confirmation before reacting.

“Step by step muna. We will convince him early next week to please file, huwag nang hintayin ’yung Dec. 10,” Pimentel said, referring to the Commission on Election’s deadline of filing for candidacy substitution.