Duterte’s PDP-Laban endorses Sara, 7 senatorial bets

MANILA, Philippines — The PDP-Laban faction composed of the allies of President Duterte proclaimed yesterday its national candidates without a presidential bet and launched an 11-point agenda that seeks to sustain the policies of the administration.

The ruling party faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi endorsed the candidacy of Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, whom it adopted as its official candidate for vice president.

Duterte-Carpio is seeking the second highest electoral post under the UniTeam Alliance led by presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The Cusi-led faction also proclaimed its seven senatorial candidates: actor Robin Padilla, broadcaster Rey Langit, House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta, former Cabinet secretaries Greco Belgica, Salvador Panelo and John Castriciones and former Department of Energy (DOE) undersecretary Astra Pimentel.

The candidates of what the PDP-Laban called the “Tuloy ang Pagbabago” coalition were officially endorsed during a proclamation rally held in San Mateo, Rizal. The party is expected to announce guest candidates from other political parties in the next few days.

Cusi said the proclamation rally kicked off the party’s campaign events “to show that the PDP-Laban is the dominant party in the country.”

“Tuloy and Pagbabago! This is President Duterte’s marching orders to all the PDP-Laban senators, to continue genuine empowerment of all Filipinos, especially to the poorest of the poor, neglected, minority, indigenous people and, of course, to our next generation,” he said in a statement.

PDP-Laban is facing a leadership row, with both the factions led by Cusi and Sen. Koko Pimentel claiming to be the legitimate members of the party.

The Pimentel-led faction is endorsing the presidential bid of Sen. Manny Pacquiao.
In an earlier statement, the PDP-Laban Cusi wing said the only way that any presidential candidate could get the party’s endorsement is to follow its “11-point agenda for continuity,” which includes continuing the war on drugs, criminality and communist insurgency.

The partys agenda is composed of “the fight against corruption; eradication of poverty; advancement of peace and order; ending the COVID-19 pandemic; and defeating communist terrorism in the country among others.