‘Kawawa 'yong matanda’: Why Bato will withdraw if Sara runs for president

PDP-Laban standard bearer Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Thursday reiterated he is willing to give way in case Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte decides to run for president.

"Ayaw kong bigyan ng sama ng loob si Pangulong Duterte na mayroon siyang susuportahan na standard bearer na partido niya tapos at the same time, 'yong anak niya kalaban. Kawawa naman 'yong matanda," Dela Rosa said in a report on "24 Oras" on Thursday.

Sara has resigned from the regional party she heads, Hugpong Ng Pagbabago, on Thursday.

Her resignation came days after she dropped her reelection bid in the 2022 elections, fueling speculations that she is gunning for a national post.

Dela Rosa earlier expressed willingness to be substituted by Sara.

Under the Comelec's calendar for the 2022 polls, substitution for a candidate in a national or local post can be filed from the end of COC filing period until November 15, 2021.

Meanwhile, asked what if Sara runs for the top post, presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said: "Then she runs."

Marcos Jr. also said he will not change parties or be involved in any substitutions.

"Examine my situation, I have nowhere else to go. I cannot go anywhere. I will not change parties. I entered this race not to play any of this substitution," he said.—Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News