House Deputy Speaker and vice-presidential aspirant Lito Atienza said he is expecting the two PDP-Laban factions to unite following the announcement of withdrawal by Senator Christopher "Bong" Go in the presidential race.
PDP-Laban was previously divided into two factions, one led by Senator Aquilino Pimentel and another by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi. This led to the party having two sets of rosters for the national elections.
Pimentel's faction fielded Senator Manny Pacquiao for president, who will be running with Atienza, while Cusi's faction initially pushed Senator Rolando Dela Rosa, who withdrew and was replaced by Go.
However, in a shocking declaration on Tuesday, Go announced that he is pulling out of the presidential race, leaving PDP-Laban without any presidential nor vice presidential candidates.
This led to different speculations on which pair of candidates would Cusi's faction endorse for the 2022 polls.
For Atienza, he said he will not be surprised and is expecting unity between both factions again.
"Ako'y hindi PDP-Laban member, pero inaasahan ko yan. Siguro sa totoo lang pwede nang pag-isahin yung dalawang factions pagkat wala namang magkatunggaling kandidato," Atienza told DZRH in an interview.
(I am not a PDP-Laban member, but I am expecting that. Honestly, we could unite both factions since there are no more opposing candidates.)
"Isa lang ang kandidatong PDP diyan, si Manny Pacquiao. Kaya kung talagang mamabutihin ni Secretary Cusi ay magandang magkasama na ngayon yan at panaigin yung interest ng partido," he added.
(There is only one PDP candidate, who is Manny Pacquiao. So if Secretary Cusi wants it, it’s better if both factions merge and let the party’s interests emerge.)
"Therefore, I will not be surprised kung magkaisa po yan."
(Therefore, I will not be surprised if they unite.)
Cusi in a previous interview with DZRH on Wednesday said the party is still reviewing their next steps following Go's withdrawal.
He said that they are looking for a candidate who will be continuing the projects begun by President Rodrigo Duterte.
For vice president, Cusi said the party will be supporting Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, and an endorsement from them would come soon.
