(UPDATED) President Rodrigo Duterte has agreed to run as vice-president in the May 2022 elections, ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) said in a statement Tuesday, August 24, 2021.
In a statement, the party also said its senatorial slate will include:
- House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta
- Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gregorio Honasan
- Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo
- Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade
- Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, executive vice president of PDP-Laban, said Duterte gave in to calls for a “transition of leadership” that will ensure the continuity of his programs against terrorism, insurgency, corruption, poverty and illegal drugs.
Nograles also cited the need to continue the Build Build Build program and the 10-point socio-economic agenda of the Duterte administration.
He further stressed the need to ensure that the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination program is sustained.
“President Rodrigo Duterte agreed to make the sacrifice and heed the clamor of the people, and accepted the endorsement of the PDP-Laban Party for him to run as vice president in the 2022 national elections,” Nograles said.
The party will hold a national convention on September 8, 2021 at the San Jose Del Monte Convention Center in Bulacan.
Nograles did not state who the party’s standard bearer would be. In previous reports, however, members of the party said they will nominate Senator Christopher Go as president.
Go, long-time aide of Duterte, has said he will only accept the nomination if Duterte would be his runningmate.
Duterte, who was elected as President in 2016, will step down after his six-year term in 2022.
The endorsement came from the faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, which ousted Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao as party president a month ago.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier said it has yet to decide which of the two factions would be recognized for the May 2022 elections.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez had confirmed that both factions filed a Sworn Information Update Statement (SIUS), a requirement from all registered political parties.
The SIUS contains the updated information of the political party, such as the full name of the party, headquarters address, list of current officials, list of elected members, and list of members, among others. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)