Duterte not bound by PDP-Lakas resolution, says Pimentel

The resolution of his political party naming him as a substitute candidate for the presidency does not bind Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to running in next year’s elections, according to Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, President of the Partido Demoktratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan.

PDP-Laban members want Duterte to run for President, but it would not force him to do so despite the resolution approved by its national council, Pimentel said on Friday.

The resolution stated that the party would “compel” any one of its members to substitute for Martin Dino in the race for the presidency in 2016.

“The use of the word ‘compelling’ in the resolution is just poetic license to show to the mayor the sincerest aspirations of his party mates. Of course, there’s no forced candidacy. It’s not allowed under the democratic concept,” Pimentel said in a phone interview.

He said PDP-Laban would impose no penalties on the Duterte in case he opts not to run for President.

The PDP-Laban’s constitution lays down the grounds for the expulsion of a member, and refusing to become a candidate is not one of them, he added.

Nevertheless, party members continue to hope that Duterte would listen to their call, he said.

The PDP-Laban is waiting for Duterte to decide if he would join next year’s elections.

Duterte has repeatedly said he has no plan of running and did not file a certificate of candidacy for President.

But the possibility of him becoming a contender was kept alive after his party mate Dino ran for President, thereby opening up the option of making the mayor a substitute candidate.

The PDP-Laban then approved a resolution naming Duterte as Dino’s substitute in case the latter chooses not to continue running, and Dino subsequently withdrew from the race.