THE ruling Partido Demokratiko ng Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) can support a presidential candidate who is not a member of the party, like presidential daughter Davao City Sara Duterte Carpio, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said yesterday.
In an interview with the ABS-CBN News Channel, Nograles said it is not unusual for political parties to support individuals from other groups, especially if that will be the decision of the majority.
He said the party can adopt Duterte-Carpio.
“If iyan ang magiging decision ng partido to support Mayor Inday Sara kahit ‘di naman siya member ng PDP-Laban, basta ‘yung partido can adopt her or support her (If that will be the decision of the party, to support Mayor Inday Sara, even if she is not a member of PDP-Laban, the party can adopt her or support her),” he said.
The mayor is a member of the local party Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod and the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago. She is being urged by her supporters to seek the presidency in next year’s elections while some members of the PDP-Laban are asking the President to run for vice president, giving rise to Duterte-Duterte scenario in the 2022 polls.
Duterte-Carpio has not made up her mind but she said there will be no Duterte-Duterte tandem. She has been told by her father not to run for president.
The President has said running for the second highest post in the country is “a good idea” but also said he has promised to support Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez if the latter runs for vice president.
Nograles, a PDP-Laban member, said the party will have a council meeting on July 16 to finalize the agenda for the party assembly on July 17. Among issues that could be taken up are its candidates for the 2022 elections and party positions held by members in acting capacity.
Nograles said it is important for all party members to attend the meeting instead of claiming that what the majority is doing is prohibited. He did not name names, but said the council meeting in Cebu on May 31 is legal and called by Duterte who is the chairman of the party.
Sen. Manny Pacquiao, the party’s acting president, did not attend the May 31 meeting which he said violates the party’s charter. He would not attend the July meeting, according to a supporter.
Nograles, asked if Pacquiao would be voted out as party president, said, “I don’t know about being voted out. If, technically speaking, if you go by party rules, if we need to ratify officials who are in acting positions, it has to pass through the body. If it’s not ratified, somebody has to get elected.”
Pacquiao, who is reportedly eyeing the presidency in 2022, opposed the may 31 meeting and even asked party members not to attend.
