Higher office Duterte’s target, says close aide

Rodrigo Duterte. INQUIRER PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is “definitely” running for higher office in 2016, according to a close confidante.

Christopher Go, Duterte’s executive assistant of 17 years, told the Inquirer he was certain the mayor would be throwing his hat into the ring.

But whether it would be the presidency or some other high office, Go said he could not say.

“Anything is possible until the last minute when he finally decides,” he said.

But Go hinted that Duterte would not accept the vice president slot even if it was offered to him by those who had already declared their intention to run for president.

One of the early presidential aspirants, Vice President Jejomar Binay, earlier said that Duterte would make a great running mate, but the latter rejected Binay’s overtures outright.

Go said Duterte was very reluctant about running for President even with the backing of businessmen and the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban.

But he said the mayor continued to listen to those who had been pushing him to venture out of Davao and try for the presidency or some other national office.

“He wants to make sure that he won’t finish his term without ever effecting change,” he said.

“I’m being biased in saying this, but he has come to a point and stage in his life that he is most needed by the country,” said Go, who believes Duterte should run for President.

Councilor Leo Avila, a Duterte ally, said he heard the mayor talking to some close friends on several occasions and he had always hinted about running for national office.

But like Go, Avila said he was not certain what that position would be.

“So if you can read between the lines, you would say that it is indeed positive,” Avila said. Dennis Jay Santos, Inquirer Mindanao

Originally posted: 09:09 PM August 1st, 2015