Some PDP-Laban members pushing for Bong Go-Duterte tandem in Eleksyon 2022 — Cusi

A Go-Duterte tandem for Eleksyon 2022 is a “no secret” and a “possibility,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said on Tuesday, as some members of the PDP-Laban have crafted a resolution pushing for the possible tandem.

“Well, that’s no secret because ‘yung panawagan na tandem na ‘yan (that tandem) came out in Cebu when we had a meeting in Cebu,” Cusi, PDP-Laban’s vice chair, said in an interview on ANC.

He said other parties including PDP-Laban Cebu chapter called for the tandem of Senator Christopher Bong Go and President Rodrigo Duterte to gun for the presidency and vice presidency, respectively.

“There was a resolution for Go-Duterte [tandem] but in fairness po kay Senator Bong Go, sinabi po niya sa amin na ‘Huwag niyo ako isama d’yan.’ Ang sabi ko naman e ‘Hindi naman ako ang gumawa no’n. ‘Yun ay result of a meeting, consultative meeting in [the] Visayas and that was an output,’” Cusi narrated.

(He said that he doesn’t want to be included in that party decision. But what I told him is it was a result of a consultative meeting in [the] Visayas and that is the output of that meeting.)

‘Party process’

But Cusi clarified that calls from some members of PDP-Laban Cebu does not mean that the party in general will push for the Go-Duterte tandem.

“Again there is a process for the party to select its standard bearer pero kung sakali sabihin natin: Is it possible?’ It is possible but will it happen, that is another story,” he said.

Personally, Cusi said he has not decided yet if he will support Go as PDP-Laban’s candidate for president, saying he will follow what the ruling party’s decision will be.

“Definitely what I will support is whatever the decision of the party will be, whoever is chosen by the party, I will support that, I will toe the party line, that is the guiding principle for me,” he said.

But Cusi is certain that PDP-Laban members will definitely follow what Duterte will say with regard to who will they support in the upcoming polls.

“This is President Duterte’s party. Lumaki po yung partido because of the president, habang naniniwala sila…naniniwala kay pangulo, susunod po yung mga naniwala kay pangulo. It, again, is a party decision, it is a party decision,” he said.

(The party has expanded because of the president. As long as they believe in President Duterte, they will follow him.)

“‘Pag sinabi ni pangulo, gusto ko si Manny Pacquiao, I’m sure the party will toe the line. ‘Pag sinabing si Bong Go, I’m sure the party will toe the line,” he added.

(If the president said he wanted Manny to be the standard bearer, I’m sure the party will toe the line. If he said he wanted Bong Go, I’m sure the party will tow the line.)

In the same interview, Cusi said Duterte “is seriously studying the clamor for him to run as vice president” based on his understanding.

“Whoever the president decides to be his running mate, I’m sure the party will be supportive,” he said.

He added that not lower than 90% will support a Go-Duterte tandem, based on his personal assessment.

“If the party accepts that (Go-Duterte tandem), sasabihin natin siguro mahina ang 90 percent na susuporta. (We can say that not lower than 90% of our partymates will be supportive of that). That is my personal belief, considering the clamor that I have seen when we were going around,” he said.

“Whoever the President decides to be his running mate, I’m sure the party will be supportive, will not be lower than that,” he said.

Not interested

In a statement, Go reiterated he is not interested in seeking the presidency.

“As I have reiterated numerous times, please count me out. I am not interested. Iyan rin ang sinabi ko kay Sec. Al Cusi at sa aking mga kapartido,” he said.

(That’s what I also told Sec. Al Cusi and my partymates.)

“Ayoko munang pag-usapan ang pulitika. Ang focus natin ngayon ay kung paano malampasan ang pandemya. Ito muna —- bakuna muna bago pulitika,” he added.

(For now, I don’t want to talk about politics. Our focus now is how we can overcome this pandemic. We should prioritize vaccines first before politics.)

He, however, said that he leaves his fate to “to God, to the Dutertes, and to the Filipino people to whom I owe the privilege of serving this nation as a public servant.”

“Kung hindi dahil sa kanila, wala ako dito,” he said.

(If not for them, I won’t be here.)

On Monday night, Duterte said running for vice president is “not at all a bad idea if there is a space” for him there.

“But there are things I'd like to continue [and] that will be dependent on the president that I would support," Duterte went on.

Lashes out at Pacquiao

Duterte also lashed out at Senator Manny Pacquiao, the PDP-Laban’s acting president, for allegedly criticizing him about the corruption issues during the Duterte administration.

Duterte is the PDP-Laban’s chairman.

In a meeting on May 31, the PDP-Laban national council, led by Cusi, adopted a resolution urging Duterte to run for vice president in the 2022 elections and asking him to choose the party’s standard bearer.

But such move was not welcomed by Pacquiao and PDP Laban executive vice chairman Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, saying the meeting was unauthorized.

Malacañang said Duterte would leave it up to God if he would run for vice president in 2022.

Another PDP-Laban national council meeting led by Cusi is set to be held on July 16 and a national assembly on July 17 where the party members are reportedly set to elect a new set of party leaders. — RSJ, GMA News