PDP-Laban Cusi faction ‘back to square one’ after eyed presidential bet declines nomination

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, the president of a PDP-Laban faction,  said on Monday they were back to square one after the politician they were eyeing as their presidential bet for Eleksyon 2022 declined their nomination.

In a radio interview Monday morning, Cusi, without naming names, said he had signed a certificate of nomination and acceptance for PDP-Laban’s presidential bet in next year’s polls.

He said Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea was already aware of the name of the PDP-Laban’s possible presidential bet.

On Monday afternoon, however, Cusi said the supposed presidential bet had declined their nomination.

"Ayaw tumakbo (The nominated person doesn’t want to run),” Cusi said in a text message shared with reporters.

”Yes, back to square one,” he added when asked if they would select a new presidential bet again.

In a virtual interview Monday afternoon, the secretary-general of Cusi’s faction, Atty. Melvin Matibag, refused to divulge information on their supposed presidential bet and expressed confidence that they would have a standard-bearer before Friday.

“By the end of the filing on Friday, PDP will have a standard-bearer,” Matibag said.

The last day for the filing of the certificates of candidacy (COC) was on Friday, October 8.

Last Saturday, Senator Bong Go filed his certificate of candidacy for vice president under the PDP-Laban’s banner.

After the filing of Go’s COC, President Rodrigo Duterte said in an ambush interview that they would push for the “Sara-Go” tandem.

On the same day, however, Sara Duterte filed her COC for mayor of Davao City.

The presidential daughter said "no comment" when asked about the Sara-Go tandem.

In a previous interview, Sara said she had an agreement with her father that only one of them would run for a national post in next year’s polls.

Meanwhile, Go had pledged to be Sara’s running mate should the latter decide to run for president in the 2022 elections.  — DVM, GMA News