President Duterte that his love of country and the desire to see the continuity of the programs he started were the reasons why he decided to seek the vice presidency in the 2022 elections.
Duterte made the statement during the PDP-Laban national convention and proclamation of candidates for the 2022 polls in Pampanga on Wednesday, September 8.
In his speech, the President said he was grateful for his party for nominating him as their candidate for vice president in 2022, saying this will allow him to continue serving the country.
"I am hopeful that this will allow me to continue serving the Filipino people and lead the entire nation towards greater progress," he said.
According to the President, his love for the Philippines was the main reason why he decided to give in to the calls of his party mates for him to run for the second-highest government post.
"Alam mo kung bakit ako tatakbo ng vice presidency (Do you know why I decided to run as vice president)? Is it ambition? Maybe. But is it really a sense of love of country? Yes," he said.
Duterte added that he wanted to see that the programs he started, particularly his campaigns against illegal drugs and communist insurgency, continue.
"Is it really because I want to see the continuity of my efforts even though I may not be the one giving the direction, baka makatulong lang ako (I may be of help)," he said.
"Alam ninyo na ang problema droga pa rin, terorismo... 'Yang NPA (New People's Army) hanggang ngayon (You know that our problems until now are illegal drugs and terrorism. The NPA, until now) it is really one factor that is pulling us down," he added.
Duterte said he wanted to run so somebody can "nudge" the next President about what they can do in certain situations, especially about terrorism in Mindanao.
"Kaya gusto ko nandiyan lang ako, nakatingin, at makapagsabi (That's why I wanted to stay, to observe, and to speak)... Just a nudge," he said.