Duterte not discounting VP bid in 2022, says ‘leaves it to God’
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has not dismissed the possibility of running as vice president in next year’s polls, saying “he leaves it to God,” according to his spokesperson.
“I will quote the President — he leaves it to God,” Presidential Spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. told a televised news briefing on Thursday.
Mr. Roque earlier said the 76-year old leader is unlikely to seek reelection since he already assumed the country’s top post.
“I’ve heard the President say at one point na, siyempre, naging presidente na siya, bakit siya magba- (of course he’s been president, why would he still run for) vice president. But I don’t know if there’s been any change,” he said in a public briefing in March.
Presidential chief legal counsel Salvador S. Panelo, however, recently told OneNews that the President might seek reelection if there is a public clamor.
Mr. Duterte had repeatedly refused to run for president when he was still the mayor of Davao City in the southern Philippines.
He also made the “I leave it to God” statement when he was asked in 2015 by local news outfit Rappler whether he would run as president. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
