Running for VP ‘not a good option’ if Duterte, Marcos vie for same post — Romualdez

House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez believes it will not be a good option to run for vice president if President Rodrigo Duterte or former senator Bongbong Marcos will likewise vie for the post.

“I don’t think that’s a good option so we would leave it to the candidates who are strongest in terms of the people’s trust acceptability ratings,” Romualdez said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart.

Romualdez has confirmed that he will run in the 2022 elections, but said that he has yet to decide which post he will gun for.

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

Duterte said he made the promise to Romualdez amid the House speakership dispute in 2020.

And the possibility of facing his cousin, former senator Bongbong Marcos for the same post?

“That wouldn’t be a good idea. We would like to always consult one another so that we avoid any conflicts or confrontations,” Romualdez said.

“I think there is sufficient time to have these discussions and to make adjustments if needed be,” he added.

Romualdez earlier said there was a meeting between him, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and siblings Bongbong and Senator Imee Marcos.

Romualdez said the meeting, which happened on Monday, June 14, “was just another get-together and catching up and exchanges of ideas and I guess soliciting some advice.”

gsg