Presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso on Monday, Dec. 6 said he planned to vote for President Duterte, who is running for a Senate post in the May 2022 national elections.

PHOTO FROM IM MEDIA/ MANILA BULLETIN

Domagoso, in an interview, said he believed that Duterte was a qualified candidate for the position, and that he was also willing to adopt him as the fourth senatorial candidate of his Aksyon Demokratiko Party.

“I will personally vote for President Duterte for senator. And I will be grateful, honored and humbled to have somebody like the president in our slate as an additional candidate for senator. And I think he is very much capable of doing the job as a legislator,” Domagoso said during an ambush interview.

“Kung dati, sinasabi kong tatlo lang ang senador ko kaya siyam na lang ang proproblemahin niyo, ngayon ang sasabihin ko, walo na lang ang pag-iisipan niyo dahil may pang-apat na kong kandidato, si Pangulong Duterte (If before, I said I only had three senators so you only have nine problems, now I will say, you only have eight to think about because I have a fourth candidate, President Duterte),” He added.

Duterte's accomplishments, especially the "Build, build, build" program, are just some of the main reasons why Domagoso considers adopting him in his senatorial slate.

“Let’s give credit where credit is due. President Duterte has so many accomplishments. And I believe that he can be an effective senator since through legislation, he can ensure that his legacy will institutionalized,” the Manila mayor said.

“Ayoko namang pangunahan ang pangulo. Malaya naman siyang makapamili kung saan niya gustong sumama. Pero it is definitely an honor for me if the president will accept my invitation for him to be an adopted senatorial candidate of Aksyon Demokratiko,” he added.

Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go, who served as Duterte’s long-time aide, had earlier announced that he will be withdrawing from the presidential race.