Old Duterte video sparks speculation he’ll run

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. FILE PHOTO

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday said a 34-second video that was uploaded on a video-sharing website that has been shared on social media was an old campaign material from when he ran for mayor in 2013.

The timing of the video’s uploading on YouTube sparked speculation that the Davao mayor was indeed running for president in 2016.

Duterte has repeatedly said that he has no interest in running for president.

The video opens with an establishing shot showing Duterte riding around Davao in his big motorcycle. This is followed by shots of him talking with his constituents. There is also a montage of shots showing social services and infrastructure developments in the city.

Duterte, who did the voice-over in Filipino, said the secret of Davao’s security and progress lay in discipline, determination, courage and love.

He ended with a promise that the safety and fast-paced development in the city could also happen all over the country.

Speaking to reporters a few hours after the video went online yesterday, Duterte said he did not know where it came from or who uploaded it.

“But it’s an old video [that was] used when I ran for mayor again in 2013. I don’t know who uploaded the video, but I have nothing to do with it,” he said.