President Rodrigo Duterte’s rejection of a coalition among the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS), and Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) was expected, the latter party said.
In a statement Saturday, Lakas-CMD, chaired by the President’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, said: “The President’s opinion on an alliance with Lakas-CMD is nothing new. PDP’s rejection of the BBM-Sara tandem was already relayed to Lakas-CMD last week, and this was revealed by Mayor Inday Sara Duterte in her public statement on November 16.”
President Duterte, in a meeting with Oriental Mindoro leaders in Calapan City on Friday, said he could not allow PDP-Laban and PDDS to ally with Lakas-CMD because of presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The PDDS is an allied party of the ruling PDP-Laban.
President Duterte, who chairs PDP-Laban and is running for senator under PDDS, said he could not support Marcos because of his “weak” personality.
“No, I cannot because Marcos is there,” he said. “I’m not impressed with him. He is really a weak leader. That’s true. I’m not tainting his reputation. He’s really weak because he’s a spoiled child, an only son,” he said in Filipino in his speech.
In response, Lakas-CMD said: “While both the President and Mayor Sara have been quite clear in their public pronouncements, the only contradiction seems to be coming from Senator Bong Go, who belied PDP’s rejection of Lakas’ proposed tandem, contradicting both Mayor Sara and the President’s statements.”
The President said he will support nobody but Go, his long-time aide and the PDDS standard-bearer, for the presidency.
“While we do not blame Senator Bong Go or PDP for this inconsistency given the current climate within their party, we continue to call for unity for the good of our country,” the Lakas-CMD said.
“Be that as it may, President Duterte is the top and still the only Senator candidate in the list of Mayor Sara and Lakas-CMD, as of the moment,” the party’s statement read.