President Rodrigo Duterte. Screengrab from RTVM video
MANILA, Philippines — Rodrigo Duterte has once again floated the possibility of running for vice president in the 2022 national elections, though he does not promise anything but will address the Filipinos’ “present agony and sorrow.”
“If I run for vice president, which you want me to do also, maybe I will,” Duterte said in a taped meeting with members of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban aired Wednesday.
“But wag na tayo mag-promise ng mga pabahay, lahat (No housing promises or anything). We just address the present agony and sorrow of the Filipino,” he added.
During the same meeting, PDP-Laban vice chairman and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi presented the party resolution urging Duterte to run for vice president.
In response, Duterte said he was “touched” by the sentiment expressed by the PDP-Laban members.
Last week, Duterte hinted he could become the vice-presidential candidate in the upcoming elections “to maintain equilibrium.”
READ: Duterte: Consider me for vice presidency ‘to maintain equilibrium’
While the President expressed openness to run for vice president, he previously said he would support House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez if the lawmaker decided to pursue the second-highest government post.
READ: Duterte on 2022 VP race: ‘If there’s space for me there, then maybe’
READ: Duterte says he will not run for VP if Romualdez vies for same post