Koko Pimentel to PDP-Laban partymates: Don’t pressure Duterte to run for VP

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Wednesday asked his partymates in the ruling PDP-Laban not to pressure President Rodrigo Duterte to run for vice president in Eleksyon 2022.

Pimentel, the former president of the PDP-Laban, recalled interactions with Duterte where the latter repeatedly said that he would retire from politics after his term.

“Ako, nu’ng time na maraming pa kaming interactions lalo na nung Senate President pa ako ang naririnig ko is, ‘Pagtapos ng term ko, wala na akong political ambition," Pimentel said.

"Narating ko na ‘yung pinakamataas na political office in the Republic of the Philippines.’ Hindi na raw s’ya mamumulitika,” he added.

[When I had several interactions with him, especially when I was still the Senate President, I always hear him say ‘After my term, I have no political ambition. I have reached the highest political office in the Republic of the Philippines.’ He said he no longer wants to be involved in politics.]

“Siguro naman naniniwala ako sa paulit-ulit kong narinig. If they want also to give in to the desire of the person and follow the wishes of the person, ‘di na dapat siya pine-pressure nang ganyan,” Pimentel said.

[I believe on what he repeatedly said. If they want also to give in to the desire of the person and follow the wishes of the person, then they should not pressure the person to pursue what some of our partymates want.]

A resolution by the ruling PDP-Laban party circulated in March urging Duterte to run for vice president, but House Deputy Speaker Eric Martinez, a party stalwart, said that it was not final.

Senator Manny Pacquiao, PDP-Laban acting president, said the resolution was not authorized by the party.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has said Duterte was leaving it up to God on whether he would run for vice president in the 2022 elections.

On May 31, the national council of the PDP-Laban adopted a resolution urging Duterte to run for vice president.

Pacquiao tried to block the council meeting, saying it was unauthorized.

Duterte, however, authorized party official Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi to convene the national council. He also addressed through a video. —NB, GMA News