Did Duterte endorse Leni for presidency? PDP-Laban execs differ

Two ranking officials of the ruling PDP-Laban bared Monday their varying sentiments on the recent pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte that his successor should be compassionate, and preferably a lawyer.

In a statement, Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone said the President's remark was a "virtual endorsement of Vice President Leni Robredo," who is the standard bearer of the opposition.

Among the presidential candidates for the May 2022 national polls, Robredo and Jose Montemayor Jr. are the lawyers.

Evardone, PDP-Laban vice president for Visayas, said he supports the high bar Duterte has set for his successor. Evardone further mentioned that among the candidates, it is Robredo who is decisive to lead the nation as he also mentioned the latter's consistency in her programs for the poor.

"For me and for millions of Filipinos, there is only one decisive and compassionate lawyer among those aspiring to be President and she is VP Leni,” Evardone said.

"VP Leni has been very consistent on her pro-poor programs and advocacies. She has gone to far-flung barangays in the country to deliver services and listen to the cry of the marginalized sectors of our society," he added.

Evardine said Robredo had visited and distributed solar lamps to residents in Barangay Cambilla in Quinapondan, Eastern Samar and donated a dormitory building in Barangay Matarinao in Salcedo.

"At the height of the COVID pandemic and other calamities, VP Leni was always there to help our people," Evardone said. "She’s the only one who can hurdle President Duterte’s standard for his successor."

Evardone believes that Robredo is fit to become president as she is determined and forceful in addressing present issues such as rising inflation and the increasing fuel prices. He said Robredo also has compassion for the poor.

'Not referring to anyone'

For his part, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, who leads the party's Cusi wing, said the Chief Executive was not referring to anyone when he mentioned that his successor should be a lawyer and a compassionate one.

"He's talking about certain qualities of a would-be president na kailangan ganoon... Katulad din po 'yun ng sinabi na ang susunod na presidente kailangan may letter O (It's like the statement that the next president should have a letter O on his name)," Cusi told CNN Philippines.

"I think that qualities, di naman makita sa isang tao (you cannot see that in one candidate). I mean the present candidate sino ba 'yung lawyer na naging mayor (who among the candidates was a lawyer who eventually became a mayor), compassionate, putting it all together parang no individual would have that kind of quality," he added.

"I think he was not referring to anybody, but it is parang, kung sana, kung siya ang... kung sana ito ang gusto ko... parang wishlist... (I think he was not referring to anybody, it's just his preference, like a wishlist)," Cusi said.

At present, the Cusi wing has not made any endorsement for president in the coming elections. Cusi said they are focusing on their senatorial candidates and their governance agenda at the local level.

In a separate statement, PDP-Laban Cusi faction secretary general Melvin Matibag said Evardone's endorsement of Robredo is his personal choice and not of the entire party.

"We respect Gov. Evardone's personal choice but, again, we reiterate - PDP Laban will support the candidate who will embrace and continue the party's 11-point agenda, which encapsulates the successful programs of the Duterte administration," Matibag said.

Earlier, Duterte quipped that it was up to voters to choose which Ilocano would lead the country after his term ends in a few months.

Presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the running mate of Duterte’s daughter Mayor Sara Duterte, is from Ilocos Norte.

The President, however, mentioned that he would not endorse Marcos for president in the coming polls, adding that he would like to stay neutral on the matter. 

Supportive of Duterte pronouncement

Meanwhile, Albay Representative Joey Salceda, who expressed support for Robredo, agreed with Duterte that the country needs a compassionate president with good judgement.

"President Duterte has been wise to allow the people to decide who should succeed him. That allows him to be above petty partisanship, which prevents him from being a lame duck. We still need a strong President in these crisis months," Salceda said in a statement.

He noted that Duterte's endorsement of Robredo is "remote" but "still possible."

"There are commonalities between PRRD and VP Leni, mainly the emphasis on previously rejected or unheard sectors of society. After all, much of Visayas and Mindanao voted for them together, as a ticket," Salceda said. — RSJ, GMA News