Duterte: Running for president not about Poe anymore

Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Grace Poe. INQUIRER MINDANAO FILE PHOTO and INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Any reason is good reason.

That was how Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte described his presidential bid after dismissing attacks that he was pushed to seek the presidency solely because of the Senate Electoral Tribunal’s (SET) decision to junk the petition unseating Senator Grace Poe over her allegedly questionable citizenship.

After personally “reaffirming” the filing of his certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) national office on Tuesday, Duterte told reporters that any reason to justify his decision is enough.

“Then, I was complaining about the decision of the SET, about Grace Poe’s case. But at this time, water has passed under the bridge,” Duterte said.

“It’s come to pass and I really did file my certificate (of candidacy), so any reason would be a good reason at this time,” he added.

The mayor said that the time has elapsed to put any color on his decision to run for president.

Duterte threw his hat in the presidential ring last month saying that he could not stomach the fact that the SET decision violated the Constitution as regards the qualifications for president.

He is vocal in assailing the decision of the SET which ruled that Poe is a natural-born Filipino and thus, could still assume her office and run for president.

The SET has since affirmed its ruling after it junked the appeal filed by petitioner Rizalito David.

However, while Poe scored a victory in the SET, she hit a snag at the Comelec as the Second Division cancelled her certificate of candidacy for failing to satisfy the 10-year residency requirement.

Poe’s camp has filed a motion for reconsideration on the division’s ruling on Monday.