Former Defense Secretary poses for a picture with his wife Nikki, and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. Image from the Facebook page of former Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya
MANILA, Philippines — While Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio did not mention about her possible presidential bid in 2022, former Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro said he would “gladly be her vice president if she should so decide.”
Teodoro said the presidential daughter did not say she is certain to run for president when they met in Davao City last Thursday, which fueled talks of a possible tandem between them for next year’s elections.
Asked in an ABS-CBN News Channel interview if Duterte-Carpio said during their meeting that she is running for president, Teodoro said: “That’s why I said should she decide.”
Asked categorically if the Davao City mayor told him she was certain to run for president next year, Teodoro answered: “No.”
For Teodoro, Duterte-Carpio would make a good president if she decides to run.
“My impression with Mayor Sara talking about issues is that she will make a very good president of this country. She would have the ability to unite a lot of people. She has an independent mind. She has managerial skills, running a very complex city like Davao. She is familiar with national issues,” said Teodoro, who ran for president in the 2010 elections.
“I am willing to back her up. I’ll gladly be her vice president if she should so decide,” he added.
Teodoro also said his visit to Davao City was part of his consultations as there were a lot of people asking him to return to public office. He noted, however, that he would like to remain as an independent candidate if ever he will run for vice president.
Teodoro also thinks that Duterte-Carpio’s possible bid for president would not constitute a political dynasty.
“There were two President Aquino. There were two President Macapagal. It’s people that vote. And I I think you cannot consider Mayor Sara to be within the spirit of what a political dynasty is because I think she is quite independent minded and has the mind of her own and she knows what she wants to do, management-wise. That’s my opinion,” he said.
President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly said that his daughter is not running to become the country’s Chief Executive.