Efforts to convince President Duterte to run for senator “shows desperation”, according to Senator Pimentel.
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said that the move of the Cusi-led PDP-Laban to convince President Rodrigo Duterte to run for senator in the 2022 elections “shows desperation”.
Pimentel was asked for a comment on the effort of PDP-Laban led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi to sway President Duterte into seeking a Senate seat next year.
“Shows desperation on the part of [Energy Secretary Alfonso] Cusi and his group,” Pimentel said in a message to reporters on Thursday.
The senator also said that the Cusi faction gave the impression that they didn’t have strong candidates within their group and that they’re all simply riding on and were totally dependent on the incumbent president’s popularity and strength of personality.
READ ALSO: PDP-Laban Cusi Faction Convincing President Duterte To Run For This Position In 2022 Elections
He also stressed the need for political parties to aspire for “issues-based politics”.
“The good future of our country is better assured by a program of government approved by the people [through] their votes than by blind loyalty to a mortal person with the expectation of a return favor,” Pimentel said.
Cusi and Pimentel were from feuding factions within the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). The two factions were endorsing separate sets of presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the 2022 elections.
Earlier, the Cusi faction nominated President Duterte to run for vice president, which the President had initially accepted.
However, in a surprise move, the President instead announced his retirement from politics, with Senator Christopher “Bong” Go taking his place as the Cusi faction’s vice-presidential bet.
For president, the Cusi faction fielded Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who served as the former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and enforced President Duterte’s war on drugs.
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