MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte’s senatorial bid in the upcoming 2022 elections has nothing to do with skirting from the impending International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into his administration’s bloody war against illegal drugs, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Cabinet secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said the reason behind Duterte’s senatorial run is he wants to keep serving the Filipino people.
“Wala namang kinalaman sa ICC case ‘yung decision ni Pangulong Duterte na tumakbo bilang senador,” he said in a Palace briefing
(The ICC case has nothing to do with President Duterte’s senatorial run.)
“Ang pagtakbo ni Pangulong Duterte as senator ay dahil gusto niyang magpatuloy ng kanyang pagserbisyo sa taumbayan (Duterte wanted to run for senator because he wants to continue serving the people). He believes in his heart he still can contribute to public service,” he added.
Nograles called on the public to keep supporting Duterte.
Duterte filed his certificate of candidacy for senator on Monday, the deadline for filing of substitution of candidates for the 2022 elections.
He will run under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan, a party allied with Duterte’s ruling party PDP-Laban.