Sinabi ni Senador Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, na nagpapakita na desperado na ang paksiyon ni Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi sa PDP-Laban kaya hinihikayat si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na tumakbong senador sa Eleksyon 2022.
Ayon pa kay Pimentel, pinuno ng isa pang paksyon ng PDP-Laban kasama si presidential aspirant at Senador na si Manny Pacquiao, nagpapakita lamang umano na nakikisakay lang ang grupo ni Cusi sa popularidad ni Duterte.
“Shows desperation on the part of Cusi and his group. They give impression that they do not have strong candidates within their group and that they are all simply riding on and are totally dependent on the popularity and strength of personality of the incumbent president,” sabi ni Pimentel sa text message sa mga mamamahayag nitong Huwebes.
“That for us is ‘personality politics’ which we want to see ended here in [Philippines] as soon as possible,” dagdag niya.
Giit ng senador, dapat na maging “issues-based” ang politika sa bansa.
“We should all aspire for issues-based politics. The good future of our country is better assured by a program of government approved by the people through their votes than by blind loyalty to a mortal person with the expectation of a return favor,” paliwanag ni Pimentel.
Wala pang tugon ang kampo ni Cusi sa pahayan ni Pimentel.
Nitong Miyerkules, sinabi ni Cusi na may mungkahi sa partido na tumakbong senador sa darating na halalan si Duterte, at maging campaign manager ng tambalan nina Sens. Bato Dela Rosa at Bong Go, na kandidatong pangulo at bise presidente ng PDP-Laban.
Unang hinikayat ng partido na tumakbong bise presidente si Duterte pero tumanggi ang pangulo.— FRJ, GMA News
