President Rodrigo Duterte will lead the kick-off of PDP Laban’s roadshow in Iligan City on Saturday to promote the candidacy of Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Sen. Christopher “Lawrence” Bong Go and endorse the local candidates of the administration party.
“We will be in Iligan City tomorrow for a dialogue with our local candidates and local leaders to promote the candidacy of Sen. Bato and Sen. Bong Go,” said Atty. Melvin Matibag, PDP Laban Secretary-General, at the virtual Friday News Forum.
Also taking part in the roadshow are members of the senatorial lineup of PDP Laban, according to Matibag.
“It would be like a political rally that would include acknowledgment and raising of the hands of our official candidates in local posts, new members would take their oath, and everyone would be given a chance to give their commitment to support the candidates of the party,” Matibag explained.
Some 250 individuals, consisting of local candidates, local officials, and local leaders of PDP Laban in Iligan and nearby areas.
He stressed that PDP Laban will comply with the necessary health and safety protocols as called for under the existing quarantine restriction level in the area.
“The area (we chose) is quite big but we will limit the capacity under the (existing) protocol. There would also be antigen testing, especially that the chairman of the party, the President (Rodrigo Duterte) will be there, so we will be very strict,” Matibag said.
He clarified that President Duterte’s statement saying he would support the ruling party’s candidates with “sacks of money” is just a metaphor to show his commitment to personally endorse and campaign for the administration’s national and local candidates.
According to Matibag, the party is grateful for the support 57 governors have expressed for the vice presidential bid of Go, and the majority of them also backs the presidential bid of Sen. Bato.
As part of the push for the Bato-Go tandem, Matibag said PDP Laban is also in the thick of preparations to craft political advertisements for the “BAGO 2022” tandem, making sure the messaging is in line with the party principles.
At the same time, Matibag said talks for alliances with other national political parties—particularly the parties of their guest senatorial candidates—as well as local political groups.
But Matibag said there are none with political parties that have fielded their own presidential and vice presidential candidates, including that of Davao Mayor Sara Duterte.
Asked about the reported offer of Lakas CMD for Mayor Sara Duterte to run for president under its banner, Matibag reiterated that PDP Laban would respects the decision of Mayor Sara but the ruling party is making sure it is ready to respond to “any eventuality.”