VP Duterte prefers to be unspecific in decision to run for next polls

Vice President Sara Duterte during an ambush interview in this file photo taken during the National Childrens month celebration on November 28 in Taguig City. INQUIRER.net file photo / NOY MORCOSO

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday maintained ambiguity on her political plans, saying that there was “confusion” in her previous speech where she declared that she will run for office “in the next elections.”

Duterte made the pronouncement after she was pressed by reporters to clarify her recent declaration that she will run for office “in the next elections.”

READ: VP Duterte declares she’ll run again for office ‘in the next elections’

According to Duterte, there was merely confusion in how her speech was understood.

“Maayos naman pagkalatag doon, ang confusion lang ay piecemeal yung understanding at appreciation ng mga tao,” said Duterte in a chance interview.

(The arrangement in the speech is fine; the confusion lies in the piecemeal understanding and appreciation of the people.)

In her speech in Barangay Bago Gallera, Davao City, on Monday, Duterte said that she will run in the next elections after her brothers declared that they won’t be running in the next elections.

“Narinig ko na sinabi ng aking kapatid, si Mayor Baste (Sebastian Duterte), at ng aking mas matandang kapatid, si Congressman Pulong (Paolo Duterte), na hindi sila tatakbo. Baka hindi sila tatakbo sa susunod na eleksyon, kaya’t narito ako sa inyong harap dahil mangangampanya ako sa inyo dahil tatakbo ako sa susunod na eleksyon,” Duterte said in Bisaya.

(I heard that my sibling, Mayor Baste, and my elder sibling, Congressman Pulong, mentioned that they won’t run. Maybe they won’t run in the next election, so that’s why I am here with you because I will campaign for you since I will run in the next election.)

But Duterte said her speech was interpreted in a way people would want to understand.

“I think ‘yung confusion is piecemeal ang appreciation ng mga tao doon sa sinabi ko,” Duterte explained.

(I believe the confusion stems from people there having a fragmented appreciation of what I said.)

“Ibig sabihin, tinatanggal nila ang isang linya para sabihin kung ano ang gusto nila na interpretation,” she added.

(It means they are omitting a line to convey the interpretation they prefer.)

READ: VP Sara Duterte says she has no ambition to run for president in 2028

When questioned again about her statement regarding running “in the next elections” and whether it implies resigning from Vice President and Education Secretary positions, Duterte clarified that she did not make such a statement.

“Wala akong sinabing ganiyan doon sa aking speech … sabi ko nga, ang paniwala ko, dahil line per line siya iniinterpret ng mga tao hindi ‘yung buong speech kaya nagkakaroon ng mga tanong,” said Duterte.

(I didn’t say anything like that in my speech. As I mentioned, people are interpreting it line by line, not considering the entire speech, which leads to questions.)

Despite several days of requests, the full copy of Duterte’s speech in Davao has yet to be provided by the Office of the Vice President.