President Rodrigo Duterte will be making a "supreme sacrifice" and will humble himself to be the vice president “for the benefit of our country” as he has already reached the pinnacle of power, PDP-Laban Deputy Secretary General Melvin Matibag said Tuesday.
In an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel, Matibag said that for the benefit of the party and the country, he does not see any reason “why we should stop it when the vice-presidential candidate will be President Duterte.”
Factions within the ruling party have been pushing for Duterte to slide down to vice president for either of two rumored presidential bets — his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte-Carpio, or longtime aide Senator Christopher “Bong” Go.
A resolution calling for Duterte to run as Vice President in the 2022 elections is being passed around among PDP-Laban members, which House Deputy Speaker and Valenzuela 2nd District Rep. Eric Martinez has confirmed.
The ruling party's leaders, including national president Sen. Manny Pacquiao, have called it “unauthorized," stressing this is not the time for politics.
However, Matinag said the call for Duterte to run “will not stop” despite warnings from Pacquiao.
"I think it will not stop because the clamor is there. I respect our acting president Senator Manny Pacquiao. But we have this principle in PDP like consultative and participatory democracy. So how can we stop members who want to sign it?” Matibag said.
He pointed out that the resolution is gaining traction. He said the resolution is staying alive on its own.
Matibag said this is actually “a major issue” for the President.
Instead of enjoying his retirement once he steps down from his post, Duterte will make a sacrifice by running again for a national post for the purpose of continuing his programs “so that everybody will benefit,” the party official said.
“We know, in the party, everybody will agree the campaign of the President, against drugs, against corruption, against poverty, terrorism, crimes, is gaining ground,” Matibag said.
“Plus, not to mention the 10-point economic agenda of the President," he said.
For continuing Duterte’s agenda “so that everybody will benefit,” the PDP Laban official said this is a major sacrifice for someone who is already serving as president.
Matibag said that instead of dividing the party, “it’s being shown that it’s actually President Duterte as the chairman of the party (who) is the single person who can unify the party.”
