Koko vows to convince Duterte to run

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said Thursday that winnability should not be a reason for an aspirant to run for a political post as he vowed to continue convincing Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to seek the presidency even if the latter is not a sure winner.

 

“'Wag naman na ang reason na tumatakbo ka ay dahil sure winner ka. Kahit na sure winner ka pero hindi mo alam ano ang gagawin mo, ang advice ko, 'wag kang tumakbo,” Pimentel told reporters when asked why his party is pushing for Duterte. 

 

“Pero kung meron kang plano, klaro sa mind mo ang vision mo, may track record ka, may proven political will ka, tumakbo ka kahit fifth placer ka sa survey because you have to offer the people an alternative or choice. From the point of view of our party, that is the essence of democracy,” he added. 

 

Pimentel, president of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), said their partymates run not because they are sure winners.

 

“Ang mga kandidato namin tumatakbo hindi dahil sa winnable o sure winner. Tumatakbo kami because we have something to offer,” he said. 

 

He said PDP-Laban will continue to try to convince Duterte even if the latter has already announced that he is not interested to run for President.

 

“Magkasama kami hanggang 3 ng umaga kanina so merong extra effort (to convince him). Pero walang development,” he said. 

 

“We will continue to convince him, to plead with him, to please listen to the clamor… I can feel the clamor of a big segment of society for him to run. I will just beg him to listen to that clamor,” he said. 

 

Asked what he thinks would make Duterte change his mind, Pimentel said once the Davao mayor feels the duty or responsibility to run to offer his ideas on how to manage the country.

 

He added that they will never give up until October 16, the filing of the certificate of candidacy, or until December, the deadline for political parties to substitute their candidates.

 

He said the PDP-Laban will not take into consideration other presidential candidates.

 

“Risk ng party namin 'yun. We are willing to take that risk,” he said. —KG/JST, GMA News