Duterte to Manny Villar: Run, I’m with you

Manny Villar. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

President Duterte promised to support former Senate President and House Speaker Manuel Villar Jr. should he decide to run for President again.

The President made the vow during the PDP Laban’s proclamation rally of its senatorial bets, which included Villar’s wife, Sen. Cynthia Villar, as a guest candidate.

Duterte said it was the Villars who convinced him to run for the presidency in 2016.

“As the campaign drew near, ma’am (Cynthia) and Speaker called to me a hotel suite, a large one with a sala. We talked. They said: ‘Rody, you should run. You might be able to help the country,’” the President said.

He added: “Speaker was one of the factors why I agreed. So if he runs for President I will support the Speaker. I told him, if you will run, I’m with you, Speaker Villar.”

Duterte was a congressman when Villar was the  Speaker. Villar later became Senate President and ran for President in 2010.

However, he lost to former President Benigno Aquino III, Mr. Duterte’s predecesssor.—JULIE M. AURELIO