Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte will run for president in 2022 but it will have to be a “Duterte and somebody else” tandem that should be formed in order to maintain geographical balance in the national leadership and ensure good public policy.
Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda made this statement Thursday, June 3 amid reports that political heavyweights coming from Luzon and the Visayas continue to pay the presidential daughter a visit in her city.
While Salceda was holding a virtual press conference, former Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, still publicly touted as a best president the country never had, was accompanied to Mayor Duterte’s turf by former Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya.
"On my way with my vice president to meet my president. Done deal folks," Andaya said in the caption of two photographs showing him and Teodoro aboard what appeared to be the interior of a private plane.
Later, Andaya posted another photograph, this time showing Mayor Duterte with them.
Teodoro hibernated from politics after his defeat in the 2010 presidential race to his cousin, former President Benigno Aquino III. He used to be the president of the then ruling Lakas-CMD which is currently headed by House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Romualdez was also among Mayor Duterte’s well-wishers when she celebrated her birthday on Monday.
Also paying the Hugpong ng Pagbabago founder a visit were former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos and House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
“All roads lead to Davao for 2022,” Salceda said.
Salceda, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, revealed that he was among the PDP-Laban members who recently signed the resolution calling on President Duterte to seek the vice presidency in 2022.
The resolution also empowered Duterte, the party chairman, to choose his candidate for president.
However, Salceda said he does not see a Duterte-Duterte tandem gunning for the two highest positions in the country.
“It is more reasonable that there will be a Duterte and somebody else in 2022. I do not see a Duterte-Duterte tandem,” said Salceda.
“You need geographical balance, It is a rational thing to do especially that in our system. There is concentration of powers in the president,” he stated.
The senior administration lawmaker explained that geographical balance is also necessary to “win and necessary for good public policy.” “I can’t see the president (Duterte) being a spare tire. Also it is usually the VP who should be younger than the president,” he noted.
Salceda said that based on their exchange of text messages, Mayor Duterte will run for president in 2022.
In one text message sent to him. Mayor Duterte said: “True that, I make things happen just by sheer grit and determination but I do not have the level of intellectual brilliance as yours so I am honored to have you on my side because I am only as good as the friends I keep. I will shine because I am under your light.” Salceda said this is enough for him to surmise that the Davao City chief executive will run.