Duterte-Moreno alliance impending? Palace can't say yet

Malacañang on Tuesday said it could not say yet if there is an impending alliance between President Rodrigo Duterte and Manila mayor and presidential aspirant Isko Moreno.

"Ayoko pangunahan ang [I don't want to preempt] political developments," said Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles at a press briefing.

Speculations of such an alliance loomed after Moreno said earlier this week that he would vote for Duterte for senator in the 2022 elections

Moreno also said he is open to adopting Duterte, who is running under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS), in his Senate slate.

"President Duterte is a candidate of PDDS and he is supported by PDP-Laban. If anything will happen such as adoption or alliances in the coming days, weeks or even months, I do not want to preempt it," Nograles said.

Moreno's Senate slate so far include Muslim civic leader Samira Gutoc, Carl Balita and lawyer Jopet Sison.

Nograles and Duterte both belong to the PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

The Cusi-led wing initially nominated Duterte as its vice presidential bet, but Duterte said he would just retire when his term ends in June 30, 2022.

The President, however, reneged on his word and entered the 2022 Senate race via substitution under PDDS.

Duterte, Nograles and PDDS, however, have yet to provide details as to when the President took oath as PDDS member.  —KBK, GMA News