President Rodrigo Duterte poses for posterity with his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, and Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go as they prepare for the Ceremonies of the Accession to the Throne of His Majesty Emperor Naruhito while at a hotel in Tokyo, Japan.  Presidential Photo/File

Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) wing led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi disclosed that the party has not yet discussed alternative standard-bearer for 2022 after Senator Christopher Bong Go decline its nomination.

On September 8, PDP-Laban will hold its national assembly, wherein they are expected to announce the complete list national and local candidates it will support. And one of the names being considered to replace Go is President Rodrigo Duterte’ daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

“They have not reached to us (Dutertes), so we have no basis to even discuss it this time,” Cusi said in a virtual press conference.

Pressed on whether or not the party was open to adopting Duterte-Carpio, Cusi said, “I don’t like to answer that because there are a lot of things to be taken into consideration, and it’s not only me that would make the decision.”

“Sabi nga, ‘yong possibility of raining and possibility of not raining, laging andiyan ‘yan,” he added.

Cusi also noted that Bong Go has repeatedly said he should be last in the party’s pool of potential standard-bearers.

“Noong sinabi niya ‘yan, hindi niya isinara ang pinto… Hindi natin idini-discount na wala si Bong Go,” said Cusi.

Go had previously said he was open to running for president if Duterte was his running mate.

Duterte, 76, is prohibited by the Constitution from seeking a second term, but his opponents believe he wants to maintain his grip on power.

Duterte has declared he will seek the vice presidency if his daughter does not run for president.

Both Duterte and his daughter had topped recent opinion polls.

“It’s possible that Sara Duterte and the father reconciled on strategy for one candidate for 2022,” said political analyst Victor Manhit.

Duterte-Carpio declined to comment on whether she and her father had reconciled on political strategy. She has been quoted in media as saying she was open to running for president.

While Duterte remains popular, his administration is facing growing criticism over its handling of the pandemic amid a resurgence in COVID-19 cases that has overwhelmed hospitals.

Go’s decision to back out would have had Duterte’s approval, said analyst Earl Parreno of the Institute of Political and Electoral Reforms, who stressed that “nothing is final yet”.

Candidacies only need to be officially filed starting in October.