Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech during the 17th anniversary of Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption at Camp Aguinaldo in July. Duterte has asked his supporters to give him more time to decide for the last time whether or not he would run for president in 2016. INQUIRER PHOTO
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday gave hopes to his supporters after he asked for more time to finally decide whether he would run for president in 2016.
In a statement read by retired Armed Forces chief Hermogenes Esperon to the crowd at Quirino Grandstand in Manila, Duterte asked for more time to “do some final soul-searching.”
“Sa lahat ng kababayan natin, humihingi ako ng konting panahon so I can do some final soul-searching with myself and my family,” Duterte, as quoted by Esperon, said.
“At pagkatapos, sa konting panahon na lang po, haharap ako sa bansa at sa inyong lahat at magdedesisyon ako ng buong kalooban at mula sa puso. Pangako ko sa inyo, hinding hindi ko kayo pababayaan,” his statement added.
Duterte also thanked his supporters, saying he heard their “clamor loud and clear.”
“I hear your clamor loud and clear. I know you want an alternative to those who now present themselves with their ambition to lead the country. I have repeatedly said that I do not have ambitions to be your president. Leaders answer not their self-interest or their personal glory. Leaders respond to duty and moral obligation,” he said.
“Salamat sa lahat ng mga taong nagbigay ng suporta. Tiniis daw ninyo ang init at ulan. At ako ay humihingi ng paumanhin. Nandito ako sa Zamboanga City dahil tumutulong ako sa paghanap ng solusyon sa kidnapping na nangyari sa Samal Island noong Lunes. Maraming maraming salamat po,” he added.
Supporters of Duterte on Saturday gathered in a rally dubbed as “Million March: Run Duterte Run” to convince him to run for president in 2016. Nestor Corrales/RC
RELATED STORIES
Groups still push Duterte to run for president in 2016 elections
Duterte: I’m not running, but if I were the president …