Sen. Richard J. Gordon (Screen grab/ Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Richard Gordon, who is considering running for president in 2022, is looking for a “public health person” as his possible vice presidential running mate.
“I’m looking for a public health person. We have to get out of COVID. And I will need somebody other than my secretary of health and other than the Congress to be sure that somebody’s on the ball paano tayo lalabas sa pandemic,” Gordon told reporters in an online interview on Tuesday.
“He will oversee the secretary of health. He will oversee and recommend kung ano ang gagawin dun sa COVID. Public health is a concern,” he added.
When asked if he is in talks with a doctor as a possible running mate, the senator answered in the affirmative but no longer elaborated.
“I will just say that he’s got to have public health experience because that is a problem. We have to keep our people healthy,” said Gordon, who himself is the chairman and chief executive officer of the Philippine Red Cross.
The senator also said he is looking at someone with a “good track record.”
“Somebody who can help, who will not be a flower vase, will not be treated as a flower vase. Somebody that is relevant,” he said.
It was in early May when Gordon first said he was studying the possibility of joining the presidential race in the elections next year.
According to Gordon, he may make a decision on whether to run for president by September or October.