Rody’s picks: Inday, Bong Go, 3 others

It happened in Davao. Let’s ask the people of Davao. That can also help us determine if it’s good for the country

President Rodrigo Duterte is considering Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and four other allies to become his successor after his term ends in June 2022, Malacañang said Thursday.

Duterte has named his eldest daughter, along with Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Manny Pacquiao, former lawmaker Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Manila

Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso among his favored presidentiables, his spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque said.

Go, Pacquiao, Marcos, and Moreno are known supporters of the President. None of them have

so far declared their political plans for 2022.

Duterte won’t endorse any of them soon since he remains focused on the government’s pandemic response and vaccination program, Roque said.

“Let’s just say that there are many options the President had mentioned and I will just repeat it. His options on those who can run include Mayor Sara Duterte, Senator Manny Pacquiao, former Senator Bongbong Marcos, and even Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and Senator Bong Go,” Roque said in a televised briefing.

However, Roque said Duterte is still not in favor of his daughter’s possible presidential bid even if he considers her among his potential successors.

“I heard the President personally on that matter as of last Monday. Somebody called him whom I would no longer disclose. He said he still recommends to Mayor Inday Sara not to run for president,” Roque said. “That’s the latest I heard from the President’s mouth.” In his public speeches, the Chief Executive has repeatedly discouraged his daughter from seeking the presidency.

He said he still recommends to Mayor Inday Sara not to run for president.

Duterte-Carpio has not made any announcement on her political plans, but her ally Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said the Davao City mayor has been forging alliances in preparation for the next presidential elections.

At least five political parties have expressed support for Duterte-Carpio, the lawmaker added.

“I have had several exchanges with her via text and I can tell you that she’s really running… My sources say that there are alliances being formed for her candidacy in 2022,” Salceda told One PH’s “Sa Totoo Lang” Wednesday night.

The Davao City mayor turned 43 on Monday and politicians flew to her hometown to greet her, a sign of her place in the national political pantheon.

Among them were Marcos and his sister, Imee; and House members led by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and Majority Leader Martin Romualdez. They were joined by Deputy Speakers Bernadette Herrera-Dy, Kristine Singson-Meehan, and Wes Gatchalian; Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, and Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga.

Duterte-Duterte?

Duterte himself was caught in a dilemma on whether he would heed the call of his political party to join the vice-presidential race in the next elections.

The national council of the ruling PDP-Laban adopted on Monday a resolution “convincing” him to run for vice president, and Roque said the President would think of what is best for the country before deciding on the matter.

The latest developments sparked speculations that the administration would launch a Duterte-Duterte tandem in the next elections.

PDP-Laban vice-chair Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, who led the party’s national council meeting earlier this week, said that while he sees nothing wrong with the possible presidential bid of Duterte-Carpio, the daughter-and-father tandem has to be studied.

His options on those who can run include Mayor Sara Duterte, Senator Manny Pacquiao, former Senator Bongbong Marcos, and even Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and Senator Bong Go.

“For me, there is nothing wrong with the statement of Cong. Joey (Salceda)… since the party’s resolution gives the privilege to the President to choose his running-mate,” Cusi said in a Palace briefing.

“The Duterte-Duterte (tandem) is something that we need to study. We cannot answer whether it’s good or not good at that moment,” the PDP-Laban leader added.

Pressed whether the possible tandem is “wise” for the party, Cusi tossed the question to Roque.

In response, the Palace mouthpiece said: “It happened in Davao. Let’s ask the people of Davao. That can also help us determine if it’s good for the country”.

It remains unclear whether the President would join the vice-presidential race, and if the younger Duterte would be his running mate under the banner of PDP-Laban.

The younger Duterte is not a member of the PDP-Laban, but she has forged close ties with some of its stalwarts.

In 2019, she established her own regional group dubbed “Hugpong ng Pagbabago.”

Cusi earlier said nominations for PDP-Laban’s presidential candidate may be discussed in the party’s council meeting scheduled on 16 July and its national assembly on 17 July.