The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) said it will endorse the presidential candidate who would continue the legacy programs of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The President, meanwhile, endorsed the senatorial bid of former senator JV Ejercito, whom he called “a friend and partner” of the administration.
In a statement, party president Alfonso Cusi said PDP-Laban said the elections should be issue-based and not personality-based.
“What the country needs now, especially during this time of the pandemic, is a presidential candidate who will continue the courageous and compassionate brand of leadership of President Duterte that the people want,” Cusi said.
He particularly noted that the Build, Build, Build, Free Education, Universal Health Care, Free Irrigation, Barangay Development Program (BDP), and the whole-of-nation approach to end the communist armed conflict are Duterte’s legacy programs that Filipinos want to continue.
On Jan. 21, PDP-Laban’s national executive committee announced it would support vice-presidential bet Sara Duterte “based on her credentials, advocacies and vision for our nation” but did not mention yet who it will support for President.
The PDP-Laban has adopted the 11-point Agenda for Continuity: fight against corruption, eradication of poverty, advancement of peace and order, ending the pandemic, defeating communist terrorism, sustaining economic growth, generation of jobs, strengthening national defense and foreign relations, educational reforms, decentralization and local government empowerment, and Charter change and federalism.
In terms of battling corruption, Cusi said the move towards transparency could be enhanced through the enactment of laws such as the conduct of pre-audit of all government transactions, the Freedom of Information bill, and the lifting of the Bank Secrecy Law.
The Energy Secretary himself is the subject of corruption allegations over the sale of the Malampaya gas field to a major campaign contributor of the President.
For alleviating poverty, Cusi said amendments to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Republic Act 6657), specifically on land ownership, land valuation, and the method of land acquisition should be added, as well as the institutionalization of housing programs for homeless families nationwide, should be pushed.
To end communist terrorism, he said PDP-Laban wants to institutionalize the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and to localized peace deals with the communist rebels.
In a video message, Duterte urged voters to rally behind Ejercito and give him another opportunity to serve the country.
“I endorse JV Ejercito as he runs for the Senate in the upcoming elections. JV Ejercito has always been a friend and a partner of this administration in pushing for advocacies that advance our development agenda, especially for the poor,” Duterte said.
The President also underscored the “diligence and hard work” manifested by Ejercito, who has helped ensure the passage of the Universal Healthcare Law and the law creating the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).
“I know that he has always served our country and people with diligence and hard work. I hope that you’ll give him another chance to serve you,” the President said.
Ejercito said he was “honored and flattered” upon hearing the President’s endorsement of his 2022 senatorial campaign.
Also on Wednesday, Senator Risa Hontiveros launched her senatorial campaign through a proclamation rally in Bacacay, Albay. She committed to continue to fight corruption and push for legislation promoting a healthy life and livelihood for Filipinos.