Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. FILE PHOTO
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Amid persistent calls on social network, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte reiterated on Sunday that no one could make him run for president in the 2016 elections.
“I will not run, you can’t make me run, I’m not interested,” Duterte said during the Sunday television program, “Gikan sa masa, para sa masa.”
Running for president would entail some P15 billion to P20 billion to win and, Duterte said, he simply did not have that money and could not see himself owing somebody or some group P20 billion.
“What will I spend? I will rely on somebody to fund my campaign? That will mean P15 billion to P20 billion worth of utang na loob (debt of gratitude), so, what will I say if the one who funds my campaign will ask for a payback?” he asked.
“Besides, all presidents now go to jail after their presidency, so, please, have mercy on me,” Duterte said.
Although he admitted being a close friend of both Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas and Vice President Jejomar Binay, the mayor said he “is still keeping his cards close to his heart,” and would reveal the candidate he would support at the appropriate time.
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