PDP-Laban members urge Duterte to run for VP in 2022 – lawmaker

President Rodrigo Duterte. RICHARD MADELO/PRESIDENTIAL FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — A resolution calling on President Rodrigo Duterte to run as Vice President in the 2022 elections is being passed among members of his political party, PDP-Laban.

This was revealed Thursday by House Deputy Speaker Eric Martinez, adding that Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, the vice-chairman of the ruling political party, “is going around the country consulting with the PDP members” regarding the resolution.

“Starting nga dito sa Metro Manila, noong Monday, pinatawag ‘yung mga PDP partymates ng Pangulo noong Monday and some malalapit dito na lugar. I think may Laguna pa ako na nakita doon and Bulacan,” Martinez said in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net.

The resolution, according to the PDP-Laban member, also includes a statement of support to Duterte’s final year of presidency and the country’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

“At the end of the meeting, medyo nabanggit na, saan patungo ang PDP come 2022? And someone floated that idea na why not—kasi wala pang linaw kung sino ang mga presidentiables,” Martinez said.

“May nag-float lang ng idea. Since the President is the chairman of the PDP party, has the highest approval rating—never before seen in the history of our country—someone floated the idea, why not i-start muna with convincing the President to run for Vice President,” he added.

So far, PDP-Laban members from Metro Manila and some members from nearby provinces have adopted the resolution, said Martinez.

It was Duterte’s chief legal counsel, Secretary Salvador Panelo, who previously raised the idea of a “Duterte-Duterte” tandem in 2022, with the older Duterte as Vice President and his daughter, incumbent Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, as President.

Late last year, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte is already looking forward to ending his term and returning to his hometown Davao City.

In January, Duterte said his daughter will not run for the highest government post and that the presidency is “not a woman’s job.”

KGA