THE Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said Wednesday, November 10, that it is watching "with keen interest" the political moves of presidential daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, after she withdrew her certificate of candidacy (COC) for reelection.
"PDP-Laban watches with keen interest the developments on Sara Duterte's decision to withdraw her certificate of candidacy for Davao City mayor, especially considering the public support she enjoys," Cusi said in a statement.
"In any event, her actions, including any decision to run for a national elective office, will most certainly affect the political landscape," he added.
The said faction is chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Duterte-Carpio pulled out her COC on Tuesday, November 9, saying his brother, incumbent Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte, will substitute her.
Hours later, during an event in Antipolo City, vice president aspirant Christopher Lawrence Go, who filed under the PDP-Laban party, said there will probably be changes in the party's plan for 2022.
"Gustuhin ko man pong magsilbi sa inyo bilang bise presidente dahil sa kagustuhan ng mahal na pangulo, kailangan ko pong umiwas. Malalaman n'yo po 'yan sa mga darating na araw," he said.
(Despite my desire to serve you as vice president, I have to give way as ordered by our beloved president. You will know more about it in the coming days.)
Lakas-CMD Partylist bets
Meanwhile, in a television interview on Wednesday morning, Albay Second District Representative Joey Salceda, Duterte-Carpio's political ally, said she would run for president most likely under Lakas-CMD Partylist.
Salceda said he spoke with Duterte-Carpio an hour before she withdrew her COC.
"There's no VP (vice president) option for her and picking a VP for her is not a problem," he said.
"I'm not sure about that (if she will partner with presidential aspirant Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos). Definitely, that's a speculation because she's running for president. All these political gyrations just shows she's going toward the presidency," he added.
On October 8, the last day for filing of COC, a certain Anna Capella Velasco filed a COC for president under Lakas-CMD, while a Lyle Fernando Uy filed for vice president under the same party.
House Deputy Speaker and Lakas-CMD secretary general Prospero Pichay Jr. admitted, however, that the two were only placeholders.
Pichay earlier said they were "reserving" a standard-bearer spot for Duterte-Carpio despite rejecting numerous claims and clamor for her to seek the presidency.
National party requirement
In a separate television interview, Commission on Elections spokesperson James Jimenez said Duterte-Carpio should join a national party in order for her to run for a national post.
Duterte-Carpio is currently a member of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago, which is a regional party.
"Political party po 'yan [Hugpong ng Pagbabago] pero regional. So hindi siya puwedeng tumakbo sa national level except as an independent candidate," said Jimenez.
(Hugpong ng Pagbabago is a political party, but it's regional. So she cannot run for a national post except as an independent candidate.)
"Ang kailangan lamang ay maging member siya ng political party noong taong isa-substitute niya. Ibig sabihin, hahalili siya sa ibang tao, kailangan kapartido siya ng taong 'yon," he added.
(She needs to be a member of a national political party of the person she will be substituting with. This means that she will replace a partymate.)
The filing of substitution is until the 15th of November. (SunStar Philippines)