President Duterte has repeatedly told typhoon "Odette" victims in his relief operations to the affected provinces that he is "not campaigning" for the May 2022 elections.
This makes a lot of sense as Duterte is no longer a candidate for any position in the upcoming polls.
However, there was one particular speech in Tisa, Cebu City last Dec. 23 wherein the Chief Executive made a request of sorts to the typhoon survivors there.
"I’m here to be with you in your time of hardship. You can barely see me traveling for leisure. But this is what I’ve always said in the past in Davao and to everybody: that in your time of need, we are here for you," Duterte said in Bisaya before giving away family food packs and cash assistance.
"I’m not campaigning here. But since the election period is nearing, look at the... I’m not running for a position, I can’t anymore. But look at the candidates who are here for you to be with you in your time of need and to share your pain. Remember them," he said.
Duterte continued: "Remember this because I was Mayor of Davao for 23 years, then I became a congressman, and I also spent four years as Inday’s vice mayor because I could no longer run as mayor."
Duterte, 76, planned on running for vice president in the 2022 polls. What he actually did was file a certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator via the substitution route.
His supposed Senate dream didn't last long as he would withdraw his COC last month. His Palace term will end on June 30, 2022.
"Before I go, I’ll tell you something. I’m from Danao. We migrated to Mindanao so we forgot the Cebuano dialect because in Davao, the language is mixed. But majority of the Cebuanos voted for me so I want to thank you. The help that I gave you now is from the bottom of my heart," Duterte told the local residents.
"So in about four months’ time, six months, I’ll leave Malacañang. I just want to --- it makes me want to cry but --- so many people voted for me in Cebu. That added six million to my votes. Cebu helped me win. So I owe you a huge debt of gratitude. If I don’t get to pay it, maybe my children will," he said.
Duterte-Carpio, the President's eldest daughter, is vying for the vice presidency in next year's polls.