Amid President Duterte's admission that he will run as vice president next year, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque advised those watching out for the President's s political plans to wait until October 8, the last day of the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy (COC).
“Ako mismo ang aking attitude antayin na lang po natin ang a-otso ng Oktubre, ang (My attitude is to wait until October 8th, the) last day ng (of) filing ng (of) Certificate of Candidacy,” he said during a virtual presser on Thursday, September 2.
“Doon po tayo magkakaroon ng liwanag kung sino ang tatakbo, kung sino ang hindi tatakbo (That’s when we will know who will run and who will not run),” Roque added.
Duterte earlier said he will run as vice president after being nominated by the faction of the ruling party, PDP-Laban, led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi. However, Duterte’s supposed runningmate, his former aide Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, declined the nomination to run as president in the 2022 polls.
READ: Duterte confirms vice presidential bid, says he will 'continue the crusade'
Duterte wants to run for vice president to escape prosecution from the International Criminal Court (ICC) owing to his bloody war on drugs campaign, which, according to government figures, killed nearly 8,000 people. Human rights groups said the number could be as high as 30,000.
Roque sounded like Vice President Leni Robredo’s spokesman, Barry Gutierrez, who also said the time for the vice president to make her decision for 2022 is getting nearer.
The vice president, despite being mum about her political plans next year, is the opposition’s frontrunner for the country’s highest post. She earlier hinted that she might decide to run at the last minute, or on the last day of the COC filing.
READ: Decision time for Robredo draws near
Only Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has announced his intention to run as vice president.
Duterte earlier endorsed House Majority Floor Leader Martin Romualdez, the cousin of former Senator Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos, to run as vice president. It is not clear if this endorsement still stands.