Duterte says he will not run for VP if Romualdez vies for same post

Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez with President Rodrigo Duterte after a private dinner at Bahay Pagbabago. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he will not run for the vice presidency in the 2022 national elections should House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez vie for the post.

While he thinks running for the vice presidency is a “good idea” since he still has unfinished business, Duterte said he has promised he will support Romualdez should the lawmaker decide to pursue the second-highest post in the country.

Duterte said he made the promise to Romualdez when there was a fight for the House speakership in 2020 and the lawmaker was a “serious contender” for the post.

“Ang deal ko sa kanya ganito: Sabi ko ‘huwag ka na lang maghabol diyan [My deal with him is this: I told him don’t bother pursuing that], next election, which is around the corner, if you ran for vice president, I will support you,’” Duterte said.

“Kapag tumakbo si Romualdez, wala ako. Kapag hindi tumakbo si Romualdez, wala rin ako siguro [If Romualdez runs, I wouldn’t desire for the same post. If Romualdez doesn’t run, I may not also],” he said.

To recall, Duterte, in 2019, brokered a term-sharing deal between Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco where Cayetano will hold the post for the first 15 months and yield the speakership to Velasco for the remaining 21 months.

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