PDP-Laban, Nacionalista alliance in the offing?

DAVAO City–Nacionalista Party stalwart Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s virtual endorse-ment of Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for the presidency’s presidential has fueled speculations that an alliance between Duterte’s PDP-Laban and Cayetano’s Nacionalista Party is already in the making.

Cayetano was personal-ly invited by Duterte to grace the opening of the 30th Kadayawan Festival on Monday. It was during the program that Cayetano pointed to Duterte as having the edge over other presidential aspirants because there is a genuine clamor for the Davao City mayor to seek the presidency in next year’s elections. “Duterte’s case is unique because there’s a genuine clamor from people asking him to run,” Cayetano later told a press conference at the Grand Men Seng Hotel.

Cayetano pointed out that Sen. Grace Poe and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II only rely on surveys and that the clamor for them to run are coming from either their friends or their respective political parties.

The NP stalwart also admitted that he remains clueless as to who Duterte would pick as his running mate if he decides to join the presidential race next year.

Cayetano rated high in the last Pulse Asia survey for “vice presintiables” where he placed a strong second to fellow Sen. Francis Escudero.

Cayetano’s virtual endorsement of Duterte was followed by former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr.’s direct call to the Filipino electorate to support the presidential bid of the Davao mayor. Pimentel is chairman emeritus of the Partido ng Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) of which Duterte is a stalwart.

“I cannot see anyone who could go against Duterte inside the party. That’s why the people should support Digong Duterte because it could be a good thing for our country, the Philippines. It could finally put a stop to uprisings, revolutions in our country],” Pimentel was quoted as saying by 105.9 FM.

The former senator added that of all the presidential candidates, only Duterte has so far announced clear platforms which will be very beneficial to the country and which Pimentel wholeheartedly supports.

Pimentel thinks that aside from the issue of supporting Federalism, Duterte has the passion to serve his countrymen and possesses the skills and will to implement rules that will make the Philippines a strong nation once again. From a veritable war-zone in the 1980s, Duterte was able to turn around Davao City and transformed it to one of the safest in the world, said Pimentel.

“As of now, everybody is waiting for Digong. He needs to reveal his real intention so the whole Philippines would know, because a lot of people are willing to support him,” Pimentel concluded. (jun ledesma)