President Duterte admitted that he was using his floated vice presidential bid as a way to scare his political opponents in the May 2022 polls.
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In his taped public address aired on Monday night, Duterte again talked about the possibility of running for vice president next year if needed.
“Ako naman ‘yung vice president ko pantakot lang sa kanila ‘yan (For me, my vice president bid is just to scare them),” the Chief Executive said.
Duterte also appeared to have thought about possible scenarios if he were to run and win as the country’s second-highest official.
“But sabi ko (I said), let us see if it is — kaya ako (that’s why for me), if it is good for the country, I will do it,” the President said.
“If it does not contribute anything to our Republic, then huwag na lang (never mind), magsasayang lang tayo ng oras pati (we will just be wasting time and) you contribute to the conundrum of the moment,” he added.
READ: Duterte refuses to be a ‘lame duck,’ tells public to consider him as candidate for vice president
Duterte is expected to attend the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino—Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) meeting on Saturday, July 17, which is seen to iron out the differences within the party in preparation for the upcoming elections. He is the chairman of the administration party.
Factions within PDP-Laban have been arguing over who to field as the ruling party’s standard-bearer next year. This led to one group backing Senator Manny Pacquiao while another one led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, who was lately kicked out of the party over violations of its by-laws and constitution.
The Cusi-led faction supposedly wants the President to run as vice president and choose Senator Christopher “Bong” Go as his runningmate. Pacquiao is bent to run as president, too, with the party’s founding members behind him.
READ: Duterte backs Cusi, will attend PDP-Laban meeting
The rift furthered as the boxer-senator, who is in the United States to train for his August bout with Errol Spence, alleged that the current administration is more corrupt than its predecessors.
Pacquiao also criticized Duterte’s defeatist stance against the country’s maritime issues with China.