Matibag says PDP-Laban 'toed the line' after Sara claimed they bucked support for her tandem with Bongbong

PDP-Laban secretary-general Atty. Melvin Matibag on Wednesday said members of the ruling party “toed the line” when it decided to support the presidential bid of Senator Bong Go.

Matibag made the statement after Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte claimed that PDP-Laban turned down her request to support her and former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s candidacies for vice president and president, respectively.

PDP-Laban is the party of Sara Duterte's father, President Rodrigo Duterte.

“We respect the decision of Mayor Sara Duterte. But the PDP has its alliance with PDDS among others. Our alliances are strong and our leaders’ and members’ discipline, spirit, and morale are high,” Matibag said.

PDDS stands for Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan.

“We have [toed] the line and will support the candidacy of Senator Bong Go for President and President Rodrigo Duterte for Senator,” he added.

Matibag has yet to confirm or deny the statement made by the presidential daughter.

On Tuesday, Marcos and Sara Duterte confirmed their team-up as presidential and vice presidential candidates in next year's elections.

Marcos will be going against Go, who initially filed a certificate of candidacy for vice president under PDP-Laban, but has substituted a certain Grepor Belgica as the presidential bet of PDDS.

President Duterte, on the other hand, filed a COC to run for senator also under the PDDS.

The PDP-Laban is now the subject of a controversy before the Commission on Elections as two factions — one led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and the other by senators Manny Pacquiao and Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III — are claiming control over the party. —KBK, GMA News