Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will no longer back out from the presidential race, Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) president, said Monday.
“Basta ito lang ang masasabi ko: Sa point of view ko, 'yung narinig ng tenga ko e 100 percent nang tatakbo. As far as I’m concerned, wala na pong atrasan,” Pimentel told reporters when asked about Duterte’s pronouncement over the weekend.
He said he spoke with Duterte Saturday evening.
In the past, Duterte seemed to be flip-flopping on his decision to seek higher post.
Earlier this month, Duterte expressed disappointment on the government’s failure to act on the alleged laglag-bala scheme at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, saying it could compel him to run for president.
But a week later, the Davao City mayor said
being PDP-Laban’s standard bearer was just "press release" as has yet to receive a document that officially names him as the substitute presidential candidate of the party.
Pimentel said the party is very happy that they now finally have a presidential candidate.
“Finally meron na kaming presidential candidate so that means, although we intended all the time to be relevant in the 2016 elections, now we will not only be relevant, we will be at the forefront or at the center of the action,” he said.
“We are so happy that our strongest candidate for president is the one who is now our candidate. Nag-improve ang aming positioning,” he added.
Pimentel said he already signed Sunday a new certificate of nomination and acceptance for Duterte.
He said the Davao mayor will substitute for Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) chairman
Martin Diño who earlier filed a certificate of candidacy for president. Diño later withdrew it upon learning that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) law department is considering declaring him a nuisance candidate.
Asked how they will fund the candidacy of Duterte, Pimentel said they will match the financial resources of other political parties with their energy.
“Wala na kaming ambition to match the budget of the other candidates but we will match their energy,” he said.
He also asked the Comelec not to look down on candidates who do not have funds to mount a campaign.
“Ang gusto nating mensahe sa Comelec na dapat hindi nila itrato 'yung eleksyon na pera-pera lamang, na just because 'yung nominee ng partido ay hindi kilala at hindi bilyonaryo o multi-millionaire e sa mata nila nuisance na. Dapat hindi tayo ganun mag-isip,” he said.
“Kahit na si Mayor Duterte is also middle class. Hindi dapat tignan ng Comelec ang kanyang economic class para sabihing walang kakayahan na maging credible candidate for president kasi ang kampanya pagkapresidente hindi lang naman isang tao. You cannot win this by your lonesome so kailangan ng tulungan,” he added.
The senator said the supporters of Duterte and their party members are scattered all over the country.
“Kahit hindi po kami mayayamang tao, we can still campaign for him using energy not money. It is not only the party. Outside of the party maraming tutulong kay Mayor Duterte. Ang buong Mindanao ay tutulong sa kanya,” he said.
He added they will respect Duterte’s policy on getting donations.
“Kung ayaw niya tumanggap sa ibang tao, we will respect it kasi ganun din naman kami, ganun din ako,” he said.
Pimentel has yet to confirm if Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is the running mate of Duterte but he said they have no problem with Cayetano.
“Step by step lang po. Sabi ko mag-file muna ng presidente bago namin pag-isipan kung sino ang vice. Pagkatapos ng vice, bababa naman kami sa senatorial,” he said.
He believes Duterte will file the certificate of nomination and acceptance without any fanfare.
“Judging from the historical record of Mayor Duterte, he used to file his COC for mayor in a low profile manner—walang motorcade, walang parada, walang drum and bugle. So 'yung timetable hindi ko masagot. Maybe we will just be surprised na naka-file na pala,” he said.
On the senatorial lineup, Pimentel said they “have no more choice except to choose from those who have filed. Adoption na lang.” —KG, GMA News
source: gmanetwork.com
