President Duterte maintained that he would only run for vice president if there would be space for him but said the people should start considering him as a candidate for the said position already.
Duterte made the statement days after he mentioned that running for vice president was not a bad idea because he wanted to continue some of his campaigns.
In a speech in Antipolo City, the President explained that he floated the idea of running for vice president because he did not want to be treated as a lame duck.
"Sa politiko, leverage (To a politician, this is leverage). You’d know what is a 'lame duck' kaya ikaw hindi ka talaga papayag na maging shit ka rin so nandito ka (that's why you're here because you do not want to be treated like shit)," he said.
"Posturing 'yan (That is posturing). Political posturing so they would not treat you badly kasi paalis na ako (just because I'm about to step down)," he added.
However, Duterte said the people should start seeing him as a candidate for the vice presidency already.
"Maybe at this time you can say that-- maybe-- to maintain the equilibrium sa lahat (for all)-- consider me a candidate for the vice presidency at this time," he said.
President Duterte said that if he wins as vice president in the 2022 polls, he would join the military and the police in the fight against crime, illegal drugs, and criminality. He would also visit the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries for more cohesive relations.
However, he reiterated that he had already committed to supporting the candidacy of House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez for vice president in the 2022 polls.
Duterte's party PDP-Laban has adopted a resolution urging him to run for vice president next year.