MANILA, Philippines - Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) on Tuesday nominated Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as a substitute for anti-crime advocate Martin Diño as its standard bearer.
The party passed a resolution compelling any of its members to substitute Diño if ever he withdraws from the presidential race or gets disqualified by the Commission on Elections.
"Wherefore, be it resolved, as it is hereby resolved, to substitute Martin ‘Bobot’ Diño in case he withdraws from the presidential race with Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte who is concededly the strongest presidential hopeful of the party aside from Martin 'Bobot' Diño, and who must dutifully abide by the decision of the party," the resolution said.
The said resolution was passed to ensure that PDP-Laban will have a substitute candidate in the event that its standard bearer backs out.
However, Duterte has the choice of refusing the nomination to be the party's substitute presidential candidate.
“The question of whether or not he will accept the party’s nomination should be addressed to him," PDP-Laban Region 6 interim president JV Hinlo said.
Duterte has filed his certificate of candidacy for reelection as Davao City mayor and reiterated that he is not interested in seeking the presidency in 2016.
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