Rody To Pick Among Isko, Bongbong, Pacman If...

President Duterte may select his preferred successor among three politicians if his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and his former aide Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go decide not to join the 2022 presidential race, according to Malacañang.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte may choose among Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, Sen. Manny Pacquiao and former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Pacquiao, who is an international boxing champion, is known as “Pacman.”

“In the end, if Sara does not run, if Bong Go does not run because he (would) only run for president if the president (runs) for vice president, the President will have to choose who has the number,” Roque said in a recent online forum organized by the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc.

“(The President) will have to choose from Isko, Manny Pacquiao, and Bongbong Marcos because there is no one else,” he added.

Carpio, who is being persuaded by her supporters to run for president in 2022, has said she might seek the highest electoral post in 2034, not next year.

Meanwhile, Go said last month he would only seek the presidency if Duterte agrees to run for vice president.

Roque said the candidate to be endorsed by Duterte would have an advantage because the President continues to enjoy high ratings.

“The presidential endorsement will be formidable. Not only that, it’s not just the endorsement; it’s the machinery of the government that will be working for the anointed candidate of the President,” the Palace spokesman said.

Asked if he would seek an electoral post in 2022, Roque said: “When you want to serve, you need to have the resources. I am not yet sure because it really depends if I have the resources.”

Carpio remained the top choice for president in the May 2022 elections, according to the latest nationwide survey conducted by PUBLiCUS Asia Inc.

The non-commissioned poll, taken from March 20 to 29, showed 16.7 percent of 1,500 respondents voting for Carpio as the country’s next president.

She was followed by Domagoso who received 14.7 percent voter preference; Marcos Jr. with 13.6 percent, Pacquiao with 12.8 percent and Vice President Leni Robredo with 9.3 percent.

“The top five choices for president remain unchanged from the PAHAYAG-End of the Year survey (taken from) December 3 to 9, 2020,” the pollster said in a statement.

“Given the numbers at present, no frontrunner can be readily identified,” it said.

Sen. Grace Poe was the presidential bet of 6.3 percent of respondents, followed by Go with 4.9 percent, Senate President Vicente Sotto III with 4.7 percent, and Sen. Gilbert Teodoro with 1.9 percent.

Last month, individuals and groups from various political ideologies formally launched a new coalition called 1Sambayan that aims to select a single opposition slate that would represent what they described as the “democratic forces” in next year’s elections.

The coalition confirmed it had spoken with Robredo, Moreno, Poe, former Vice President Jejomar Binay and his senator-daughter Nancy, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV and various business groups with regard to their plan.

Retired Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio, one of 1Sambayan’s convenors said he is not running for president and that the political personalities they have talked to agreed to join and respect the selection process.

The former magistrate told “The Chiefs” on One News / TV 5 on March 24 that he was open to accepting Pacquiao into 1Sambayan if the senator would support the coalition, but he would not be fielded as a candidate.

“I don’t have a problem with that (Pacquiao joining the coalition) but he has said he will run for president so that’s the big problem. And he also has a big hurdle because in one of the qualification standards that we have set is that you must be competent and you must have a track record,” the former justice said.

He also described the President’s anointment of his daughter as his successor as the "height of political dynasty.” – With Pia Lee-Brago