President Duterte will not pursue his vice presidential bid if his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will run for president in the 2022 elections, a source confirmed.
This confirmation from a highly placed source came after Duterte confirmed that he will run for vice president in next year's polls to "continue his crusade" against drugs, insurgency, and criminality, among others.
In a text message on Wednesday morning, August 25, a Malacañang source confirmed reports that President Duterte thought it would not look good if two Dutertes will be eyeing two of the highest posts in government.
The reliable Palace source, however, was not certain why these remarks of the President did not make the final cut of his pre-recorded address that was aired late Tuesday night, August 24.
On Tuesday, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced that President Duterte has accepted the proposal to run for vice president in the 2022 elections.
Duterte's party PDP-Laban has been urging him to run for the said post.
President Duterte categorically confirmed this in the August 24, 2021 episode of his Talk to the People public address.
"Gusto talaga ninyo? Oh, sige, tatakbo ako ng bise presidente (Do you really want me to? Then, okay. I will run for vice president)," he said.
"I will continue the crusade. I’m worried about the drugs, insurgency --- well, number one is insurgency, then criminality, drugs," he added.
Duterte, however, said his career in politics will still be up to the public.
"I may not have the power to give the direction or guidance, but I can always express my views in public," he said.
"For whatever it may be worth in the coming days, nasa Pilipino na ‘yan. Nandiyan lang ako, magsabi lang ako (it's up to the Filipino people. I'll just be here and express my thoughts)," he added.