Duterte says he may seek VP or Senate seat to push federalism

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (right) MARIANNE BERMUDEZ PHOTO

BAGUIO CITY— Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Friday threw cold water on various reports saying he would run for president next year.

Instead, he left the door open for his candidacy in the Senate to push his advocacy for federalism in the country.

Asked by reporters here on Friday for a categorical statement on his supposed 2016 candidacy for president, Duterte said: “I am not running for president, at least for now, but I might run for [a seat in the] Senate.”

He said he believed he had made a name in his 23 years in politics and was satisfied in serving his constituents in Davao City.

“I cannot be running for president, I am contented in serving Davao,” he said.

But pressed for his plans in 2016, Duterte told reporters that he may also consider running for vice president.

His supporters, however, are not losing hope that he would reconsider his decision.

Lawyer John Castriciones, area coordinator of Mayor Rudy Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC) for Luzon, said there was a strong clamor for Duterte to seek the presidency.

“He has many experiences to share. He was able to transform Davao City from a place of lawlessness to the fourth safest city in the world—that is a real achievement,” he said, citing a survey by the website numbeo.com in 2013.

Castriciones said Duterte’s supporters from Davao City and other multisectoral groups have been visiting major cities in the country to feel the pulse of the people on the mayor’s possible candidacy.

In Duterte’s engagement here, members of the MRRD-NECC distributed baller bands, stickers and shirts.

A shirt had a thumb-up sign with the message: “Duterte, Galing sa Masa, Para sa Masa (Duterte, from the masses, for the masses).” Other shirts had messages calling for change and reforms. Desiree Caluza, Inquirer Northern Luzon