The ruling Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) will most likely select Sen. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go as its candidate for president and President Rodrigo Duterte as his running mate during its national convention in September, a ranking party official said on Friday.

During an online media forum, Melvin Matibag, PDP-Laban's secretary general, said a Go-Duterte tandem was already endorsed during a meeting of the party's National Executive Council on Wednesday.

Matibag, however, said other nominations will still be entertained during the convention that will be held in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

The nominees could even include Sen. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao, Matibag said.

He said he is inviting Pacquiao's supporters to attend the national convention.

"If they want to nominate Senator Pacquiao as a candidate on that convention to be standard-bearer of the party, they may do so. Everybody is welcome to do that," Matibag said.

Pacquiao, who has harbored presidential ambitions, has had a falling out with the faction in the party led by Matibag and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

Pacquiao belongs to group led by Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel 3rd, which had unseated Cusi as party vice chairman.

In retaliation, Cusi's group ousted Pacquiao as president and elected him in his place.

Matibag said 90 percent of party members prefer a Go-Duterte tandem.

Sought for comment on his being endorsed as PDP-Laban's standard bearer, Go said Friday he will run only if President Duterte will be his running mate.

Go told The Manila Times he wants to ensure the continuity of the reforms begun by Duterte.

"Gaya ng sinabi ko noon, ang makapagbabago lang ng aking desisyon na tumakbo bilang Presidente ay kung si Tatay Digong ang aking magiging Bise Presidente dahil alam ko na 'yun ang magiging totoong continuity (Like I said before, the only thing that could change my decision and convince me to run as President is if Duterte will be my vice president because I know that is the true continuity)," he said.

Last Thursday, Cusi confirmed that the Go-Duterte team will be presented in the party's national convention.

Matibag acknowledged that the party still considers Pacquiao as its strongest senatorial contender. He said he will reach out to Pacquiao after his August 21 boxing bout in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Asked why the party officials chose Go over Pacquiao, Matibag said Go was a more winnable candidate.

'Legitimate leaders'

Matibag refused to admit there was a rift in the ruling party, insisting that the officers who were elected last July 17 can be considered as the legitimate leaders of the party.

On Thursday, the group led by Matibag and Cusi submitted the names of the party's newly elected officers to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to formalize their appointment.

Matibag also said the party was willing to accept former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. into its fold after Marcos expressed his intention to seek a national position in the 2022 elections.

"If he is willing to join the PDP and embrace the principles of the party, tingin ko naman (I think) he will go the process. Then if he will accept that and he is willing to go to the process and we feel that he is worthy of being a PDP-Laban member, bakit naman po hindi (why not)," Matibag said.

Asked if Marcos could threaten Go's presidential bid, Matibag said the party would rather not compare its bets with potential contenders.

For the moment the party is focusing on promoting its candidates, he said.

While the President has expressed his willingness to run for vice president, he had promised to support House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez if the lawmaker decided to take a crack at the vice presidency.

Duterte had also said Go dreams of becoming president, but the senator downplayed the President's remark as a casual joke.

JAVIER JOE ISMAEL and CATHERINE S. VALENTE