Romualdez keeping options open for 2022 polls, welcomes Duterte support

Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez with President Rodrigo Duterte (FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Majority Leader snd Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on Thursday said he is keeping his options open for the 2022 national elections.

Romualdez made the remark after President Duterte earlier said he will not run for the vice president in the 2022 national elections should Romualdez vie for the post.

“I thank President Rodrigo Duterte for his trust and confidence in me to hold the second highest position of the land,” Romualdez said in a statement.

“I am deeply honored that he considers me, a Congressman from the Eastern Visayas worthy to serve as the country’s next Vice President. For this I will be eternally grateful to the President. Currently I am keeping my options open with regard to the 2022 elections,” he added.

Nonetheless, Romualdez said he is currently focused on pushing for the approval of the Duterte administration’s priority measures.

“Marami pa po kaming kailangang gawin sa House of Representatives. Marami pa kaming batas na dapat ipasa para mapabuti ang kalagayan ng mga kababayan nating Pilipino sa  panahon ng pandemya,” Romualdez said.

“For sure, the President’s warm support and words of encouragement will weigh heavily on whatever decision I have to make in October 2021. Let me assure the President that I will seek his guidance in the pursuit of this decision,” he added.

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

Duterte said he made the promise to Romualdez during the House speakership dispute in 2020 when the Leyte lawmaker was a “serious contender” for the post.

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