President Duterte knows he was nominated by his political party, PDP-Laban, to be its vice presidential candidate in 2022, and he is thinking about it.
Speaking to media in a virtual briefing, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Chief Executive has yet to make a final decision on the matter.
“Sa lahat ho nang nagtatanong kung ano ang kasagutan ng presidente, ang kasagutan po ay pag-iisipan po niya (To those who are asking about his response, the answer is he would think about it),” Roque said.
“On one hand, ang sabi niya nakapagsilbi na siya sa bayan (he said he has already served the country). On the other hand, ang sabi niya iisipin niya kung ano ang pinakamabuti para sa bayan (he said he would think what would be the best for the country),” he added.
The ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino—Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) formally adopted a resolution seeking to “convince” Duterte to run for vice president in the May 2022 polls.
The resolution was adopted during the party’s National Council Assembly held in Cebu City, which was called by the President himself. Duterte is the chairman of PDP-Laban.
Under this resolution, Duterte was given a free hand to choose his running mate for president next year.
His spokesperson, however, did not make any comment when asked by the media if it would be a possible Duterte-Duterte tandem in 2022.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo had floated the idea of Duterte running as vice president while his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio fights for the presidency.
He even suggested that an alternative presidential ticket is for Duterte possibly becoming the running mate of his former aide and now Senator Christopher “Bong” Go.