PIMENTEL SAYS PDP-LABAN EYES DUTERTE-POE TANDEM

By Amita O. Legaspi

GMA News

Aside from the Liberal Party, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) is also eyeing Senator Grace Poe as one of its candidates in the 2016 elections.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, president of the PDP-Laban, on Thursday said the party was considering Poe to be the running mate of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in the coming national polls.

“PDP-Laban is even considering her to be the running mate of Duterte because that would be a good balance,” the senator told reporters.

The PDP-Laban was the party of Vice President Jejomar Binay until recently when he resigned due to political differences with Pimentel.

Asked if they have already approached Poe about their plan, Pimentel answered in the negative.

“No formal talks yet but I’m telling you within the party, her name is one of the favorites to be approached as the running mate of Duterte,” he said.

He added that party officials would talk to Poe “in due time, with clearance from Mayor Duterte.”

No less than President Benigno Aquino III, LP chairman, met with Poe last week to discuss his intention to get a winnable candidate who can pursue the reforms he initiated in the government.

However, Poe, who was elected to Senate in 2013, has yet to decide if she would seek a higher post in 2016.

Pimentel further said that the party had also yet to discuss the matter with Duterte.

“With him (Duterte) hindi pa, among partymates pa lang. They are excited about the candidacy of Mayor Duterte as president and, of course, some of them have expressed the name of their preferred vice president for Mayor Duterte,” Pimentel said.

He said the party members wanted Duterte to run for president because he was over-qualified for a vice presidential post.

“Una sa lahat, he is a tested as a chief executive, he is not a tested to be a vice to somebody. Second, given his age, he is ready. So [he has] enough experience,” the senator said. -NB, GMA News