Duterte sought Ramos’ advice on 2016 presidential run—source

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Mayor Rodrigo Duterte told former President Fidel Ramos in a meeting in Manila on Monday that he has become inclined to run for president in the 2016 elections, a source privy to the meeting said.

However, the source said Duterte told the former president he was still getting his family’s blessing.

The source, who requested anonymity for not having been authorized by the parties involved to talk to the media about the meeting, said Ramos was delighted at what Duterte had told him.

Ramos then advised Duterte on how to handle a presidential campaign and how to conduct himself in public – despite the expected barrage of pressure and character assassination, the source said.

The former president also reportedly gave Duterte some tips on how to run the country amid the problems hounding it.

“FVR had only kind words for Mayor Duterte and his pointers and advice are like those coming from a concerned father to a dutiful son, who has set his eyes on a noble crusade,” the source said.

Earlier, Duterte also told a rally of supporters here last week that he wanted to consult his family first before making a decision in connection with the 2016 presidential elections.

“Malapit na (The time to make a decision is near). Just give me some time to talk to my family,” Duterte said as he appealed for understanding.

Peter Tiu Laviña, the newly designated official spokesperson for Duterte, was initially mum about the meeting with Ramos but confirmed it later when photographs of the meeting came out in Facebook.

Laviña said on Monday, Duterte met with former Senator Manny Villar and his wife, Senator Cynthia Villar; and PDP-Laban Chairman Emeritus former Senator Aquilino Pimentel and his son Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III in Manila.

The meeting discussed a possible alliance between the Nacionalista Party and PDP-Laban to support Mayor Duterte’s expected bid for the Presidency in 2016, he said.

But Laviña clarified that nothing had been finalized as of yet because Duterte asked leaders of the two political parties to give him “a little more time to think things over.”

“(Also to) sort out some problems, which could prevent him from accepting the call for him to be the standard bearer of the two parties,” Laviña said.

“The alliance between the two parties would only be finalized if Mayor Duterte finally agrees to run for President,” he added.

Laviña said the mayor would announce his final decision “very soon considering that the deadline for the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy will be by the middle of October.”

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