The PDP-Laban has opened the door to a substitution of its current standard bearer Martin Diño by Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte in next year Presidential elections
Today, a day after reaffirming party support for Diño as its presidential candidate, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP) national council unanimously passed a resolution, which designated Duterte to “substitute” for the former in case he withdraws from the upcoming presidential race.
Senior PDP Laban leaders took this action at the end of a two-day national council meeting in Pasay City.
Mayor Duterte “must dutifully abide by the decision,” the resolution said, to ensure the party’s victory.
The party considers him its “strongest presidential hopeful.”
In the resolution, the party said it must compel “anyone of its members who can carry the banner and torch of the party to victory…since our party has all the chances of winning the presidential race…in view of the obtaining political situation today.”
Despite widespread clamor, Duterte did not file his Certificate of Candidacy last week, citing as reason his disinterest in going for the top executive post his lack of financial resources and the seemingly insurmountable task ahead of him.
The PDP-Laban is clinging to hopes that the feisty Davao mayor could still change his mind on or before the Comelec deadline for substitutions on Dec. 10, said national chairman Ismael Sueno, former Governor of South Cotabato.
“I’m willing to abide by whatever the party decides,” Diño was quoted as saying after accepting the challenge to spearhead the party’s bid in the presidential race last Monday.
“Tinanggap ko po ang hamon ng aking Partido na tugunan ang panawagan ng taong-bayan sa sang tunay na pagbabago sa ating pamahalaan at sa lipunan, “ Dino said in a press conference after the PDP-Laban national council meeting.
Diño is the PDP-Laban deputy secretary general for the National Capital Region and concurrent chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC).
He and the reluctant Duterte, who has been credited with the transformation of Davao into a peaceful, prosperous city in Mindanao, are considered the party’s best bets for the 2016 presidential elections.
The PDP-Laban resolution also directed the party’s National Secretariat to prepare all necessary documents “to meet certain contingency as it arises.”
PDP-Laban has consistently participated in all national and local elections since its formation in the 70s.
It has a vision, basic beliefs and principles as well as a platform of government that each and every member of the party adheres to and lives by.
It considers next year’s elections as crucial in addressing the pressing concerns on criminality, corruption, drugs, human trafficking, insurgency and poverty.
(Note: This story is an official press release of PDP Laban.)
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