THE political party of detained former president and Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may support the 2016 presidential bid of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, a lawmaker said Wednesday.
Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, president of Lakas-CMD Party, said a potential alliance with Duterte's Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) is a "welcome development."
“The looming alliance is not due to political convenience. It will be anchored on principles and platforms to further promote compassion and champion people’s interest,” said Romualdez, who was included in Duterte's Senate slate.
PDP-Laban president and Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said he is open to a coalition with Arroyo's party for next year's polls even as some Lakas-CMD officials like former Quezon representative Danilo Suarez had already endorsed another presidential bet, Vice President Jejomar Binay.
“That is a welcome development. But I think they will stay with Lakas as their party. So it is just like forming an alliance for this particular (2016) election,” Pimentel said.
Lakas-CMD deputy secretary general Raul Lambino said majority of the party members have expressed their intention to support Duterte. (Sunnex)