PDP-Laban never considered Sara Duterte's substitution for Dela Rosa —Cusi

PDP-Laban president Alfonso Cusi on Wednesday said they never considered Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s substitution for their standard bearer, Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa.

“Una ‘yung kay Mayor Inday Sara substituting for Bato, that is something that hindi namin na-consider because very clear naman ang statement ni Mayor Inday na hindi siya tatakbo under PDP. So kung hindi siya, paano namin isa-substitute 'yun ‘di ba?” Cusi said in an ANC interview.

(The issue on Mayor Inday Sara substituting for Bato, that is something which we never really considered because her statement was very clear that she will not run under PDP. So, if she will not run under us, how could we substitute her for Bato?)

Cusi, however, sad “anything is possible at this time” when asked if they are looking for another candidate for the country’s top post.

“Tinitignan po namin lahat ng kandidato (We are looking at all other candidates), we are looking at the landscape, this is political,” he added, when asked about considering former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as their prexy bet.

He said Dela Rosa was fielded because their original plan for a Go-Duterte tandem was not realized.

“Noong hindi po nangyari 'yun, and the President said that 'I’m not going to run anymore, we made an adjustment in the party because we cannot be orphaned na wala kaming kandidato na Presidente at Vice President,” he said.

(When that did not happen and the President said 'I'm not going to run anymore', we made an adjustment in the party because we cannot be orphaned with no President and Vice President in the upcoming elections.)

“At that time nandoon si Sen. Bato. Well, may advocacy rin ito kaya 'yun ang napagkasunduan ng partido na i-field siya na para tumakbong President,” he added.

(At that time, Sen. Bato was there. Well, he also has an advocacy that is why the party agreed to field him and push him to run for President.)

Asked whether PDP-Laban is making an effort to talk with other candidates, Cusi said “it’s the other way around.”

“May mga nag-aaproach, may nag-uusap pero pure discussion lang po,” he said.

(There are some who approached us. We discussed it but these are all pure discussions.)

Furthermore, Cusi acknowledged that some PDP-Laban members wanted to support other candidates, noting that some members even wanted to support Sara as their presidential candidate. But he said what is important for them are the advocacies.

“PDP is advancing this party politics and we have a program of government. Ang tinitingnan namin is anong program of government ng mga kandidato (what we are looking at is the program of government of each candidate),” he said.

On October 8, Dela Rosa filed his certificate of candidacy for President under PDP-Laban.

Talks of Mayor Sara substituting for Dela Rosa sparked when the senator filed his COC wearing a Hugpong ng Pagbabago shirt.

HNP is a Davao region-based political party chaired by Mayor Sara.

Dela Rosa likewise expressed openness to the idea of Mayor Sara substituting for him as PDP-Laban’s presidential bet.

The Commission on Elections only allows a partymate to substitute for the aspirant who withdrew his or her candidacy.

Mayor Sara is not a PDP-Laban member.

Earlier, Mayor Sara said she will rise and fall with HNP. —KG, GMA News